PDEA nets 11 drug suspects, P7M shabu
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) -7 confiscated at least 1.3 kilos of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P7 million and arrested 11 drug personalities in five separate operations prior to the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City.
PDEA-7 Director Emerson Margate said that they conducted a proactive measure since they expected that drug personalities from Luzon and other areas will take advantage of the Sinulog celebration.
"Cebu City is one of the highly urbanized provinces in the Philippines and they will take advantage of the festivities because of the influx of tourists," said Margate.
Since January 18, Thursday until January 21, Sunday, operatives of PDEA7 conducted separate buybust operations in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City and in barangays Guadalupe and Banilad and at the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City.
The arrested suspects were identified as Neressa Aguilar, Marichu Pestraño, Virginia Orge, Ruth Jimenez, Arvin Postrero, Sheilamar Dela Torre, Leo Oliver Oliveros, Eric Castro, Teresa Evangelista, Barry Ege, Roger Jumadil and Mahidi Hajaral.
Margate said that Evangelista, a native of Zamboanga City, was intercepted at the South Bus Terminal Saturday evening and allegedly seized from his possession were white powder believed to be shabu weighing about 650 grams.
PDEA -7 received an intelligence report from Region 9 regarding Evangelista who is allegedly trying to smuggle shabu to Cebu.
Margate said Evangelista is on the watchlist of PDEA9.
But in an interview, Evangelista denied the allegations saying he came to Cebu to visit his son.
Margate also revealed that the other arrested suspects, Jumadil and Hajaral, are connected to Evangelista.
Seized from the two were 200 grams of shabu. They were arrested in Barangay Banilad after they arrived in Cebu from Joloby plane.
Margate said that the arrests are alarming since it showed that drug personalities are using all avenues to enter Cebu.
"All the way, they traveled to Cebu to peddle drugs. They tried to look for a new route because traditionally, drugs from Manila are transported to Cebu through ro-ro vessels," Margate said.
He added they are now conducting an investigation on how Jumadil and Hajaral were able to bring illegal drugs at the airport.
On the other hand, to improve their anti-illegal drug operations, PDEA 7 received new gears and equipment including six body cameras from the national headquarters.
Margate said that the new equipment will help in improving transparency and efficiency in their operations.
He said his men were accused of stealing items during raids and the body cameras will help them prove that their operations are above board.
Aside from body cameras, they also received three motorcycles, helmets, vests, handheld radios and a drone.
Meanwhile, in Danao City, 11 suspected drug personalities were nabbed in seven separate buy bust operations in barangays Looc, Sabang, Poblacion, Guinocot, and TabacCamaligbato that yielded 72 packs of shabu worth P42,000.
The arrested suspects were identified as Nida Almerez, Rocky Barucan, Alfred Muñoz, Arnold Lawas,GerwilbemLapitan, Michael Dagatan, Joseph James Calzada, Colby Kieth Lao,AdmirBatucan, Jade Rivera, and JestoniTabla.
In Cebu City, three drug personalities were arrested by the City Intelligence Branch of Cebu City Police Office.
Chief Insp. Cristopher Navida said a concerned individual reported about the illegal activities of suspects Gerard Vestil Gomez, Maricel Abellana Gomez, and Marvin Gabrillo Abellana in Sitio Manggahan, Barangay Tisa on Monday at around 10:50 PM.
Navida said Abella is included on drug watchlist of several police stations in Cebu City.
Seized during the operation were 90 packs in different sizes containing white powder believed to be shabu with an estimated value of also P250,000.