5-day Negros drug sweep nets ₱19.3 million in shabu

BACOLOD CITY – Local authorities seized a total of R19,345,500 worth of shabu during a string of drug busts in Negros island from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.

R13,600,000 of the shabu was confiscated in Negros Oriental, R2,295,000 in Negros Occidental, and R3,450,500 in Bacolod.

The biggest haul was in Negros Oriental, where Jake Lester Alesna Esquilona, 22, was arrested at Barangay Camanjac, Dumaguete City, Oct, 1, after he yielded two kilograms of shabu worth R13.6 million, police said.

In San Carlos City, about 120 grams of shabu worth R1,440,000 were seized from six persons, including a 15-year-old girl, on Sept. 30.

Arrested were Guiller Patrick Rigor, 27; Kirk Morris Tambiga, 29; Maxim Laurence Bayawa, 20; Dobielyn Lebumfacil, 20; Rita Marie Fatima Bocateja, 22; and the minor, whose name was withheld.

Police recovered from Rigor eight sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, and R1,500 cash.

Arrested also in San Carlos the following day was Jesser Canaman, 26, after police seized from him about 50 grams of shabu worth R600,000.

Last Sept, 30. the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) here seized R1,325,000 worth of shabu from two persons, including a minor, in Barangay Banago here.

Arrested were John Carlo Serfino, 24, and a male teenager.

Also arrested in Banago last Tuesday was Junel Billones after 51 grams of shabu worth R750,500 was found in his possession.

Lorence Sarno, 18, was arrested at the same village last Monday. Police confiscated from him five sachets of shabu worth R100,000.

Last Sept. 27, the CDEU also confiscated R825,000 worth of shabu from William Dingcong at Barangay Villamonte. The following day, John Paul Cordova, 21, was arrested for possession of 30 grams of shabu worth R450,000.

Arrested the same day in Silay City was Joemar Julayco, 32, who yielded 17 grams of shabu worth R255,000.