Drug peddlers’ fall in separate buy-busts

CEBU, Philippines - Metro police arrested two alleged drug peddlers  in separate operations and seized an estimated total of P159,900 worth of suspected shabu from them.

In Mandaue City, Sabas Gitgano, resident of Zone Sibuyas, Barangay Paknaan, was arrested around 6 a.m. last Wednesday in a buy-bust led by Police Senior Abapo Narciso of Subangdaku Police Station.

Police confiscated from Gitgano two medium packs and another 35 small sachets of suspected shabu pegged at around P152,000.

Narciso said Gitgano also yielded a .357 caliber pistol with six live ammunition; a 9mm pistol loaded with two bullets and several drug paraphernalia.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Inocentes Abrica, 30, was also arrested after being caught in the act of handing a piece of small shabu sachet to a police decoy around 12:49 noon Tuesday.

Police Chief Inspector Mark Gifter Sucalit, chief of City Intelligence Branch of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said 14 small sachets and a medium-size pack of shabu, including the alleged proceeds amounting to P720, were all confiscated from Abrica. He was collared in his residence in Sitio Sea Breeze, Barangay Pusok.

The reported shabu had an estimated worth of P12,900, said Sucalit.

The buy-bust money of P120 from each police operations were eventually recovered.

Narciso is now detained at Subangdaku Police Station while Abrica is also now behind bars at the LCPO. Both are facing charges under Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Narciso will also facing additional charges under RA 10591 for illegal possession of firearms, police said.  (FREEMAN)