CEBU, Philippines - At least P700,000 worth of suspected shabu was confiscated from a couple in a buy-bust operation at Sitio Pung-ol, Barangay Malubog, Cebu City Thursday night.
Ruby Fabroa, 28, was detained following the operation but her live-in partner, Rene Cabuenas alias “Inik,” eluded arrest.
The operation was conducted by the Cebu City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7.
According to Senior Inspector Eunil Avergonzado, CAIDSOTG chief, Cabuenas is in the top 10 of illegal drug personalities but the target of their operation was the two since Fabroa was also helping Cabuenas in the drug trade.
Avergonzado said after receiving information about the couple’s drug peddling activities, they immediately placed them under surveillance that lasted for three weeks.
At around 10:30 p.m. last Thursday, a police poseur-buyer bought a small pack of shabu worth P200 from the live-in partners.
Fabroa reportedly handed over the pack of suspected shabu while Cabuenas received the buy-bust money.
Avergonzado said as soon as Fabroa handed the shabu pack, she was immediately arrested. Cabuenas witnessed his live-in partner’s arrest and immediately ran outside to escape.
Police tried to chase Cabuenas but since the area was mountainous and the surrounding was very dark, the suspect managed to escape.
“Nagginukoray pa unta pero wa na gyud nadala kay ngitngit kaayo unya niagi man siya dapit sa pangpang,” said Avergonzado.
Inside the suspects’ house, police were able to confiscate nine small and two large packs of suspected shabu amounting to P700,000, as per Dangerous Drugs Board’s value.
Avergonzado said they were also able to recover five motorcycles at the suspects’ residence that were believed to be stolen.
He said these motorcycles are barters from customers who did not have the money to buy illegal drugs from the couple.
“Na-recover namo didto lima kamotor nga ang uban wala’y plate number, unya klaro kaayo nga inusab na ang mga parte sa lawas sa mga motor,” said the CAIDSOTG chief.
He said they will file charges against Fabroa and Cabuenas for violation of the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002. (FREEMAN)