Buy-bust yields P1.2M shabu

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — At least P1.2 million worth of illegal drugs and two explosives were seized by the police in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Banago, this city, Wednesday night.

The operation, conducted by the Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group-6, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6 and the City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group, also led to the capture of four suspects, including two minors.

Police identified the suspects as Franco Potoza, 21; Richard Revilles, 21 and two minors, aged 16 and 17 years old, all from sitio Sibucao in Banago.

Chief Inspector Jerrick Filosofo, CAIDSOTG head, said the subject of the operation, 45-year-old Ramie Poja, the city’s top-2 drug personality, however evaded arrest.

Poja, the city’s top-2 drug personality, threw a hand grenade, which did not explode, to the police, allowing him to escape through a small window at the bathroom, Filosofo said.

Authorities recovered two big plastic sachets and a small sachet containing suspected shabu, with an estimated weight of 200 grams; a hand grenade; a homemade pill box; drug paraphernalia and P1,000 buy-bust money.

The four suspects, now detained at the Bacolod Police Station 3, are facing charges for sale and possession of illegal drugs and possession of illegal explosives, while Poja, who is still being pursued, was included in the criminal charges, Filosofo added. —Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)