PDEA arrests 7 pushers in Ormoc
Anti-narcotics operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) confiscated methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth R1.4 million and arrested seven suspects, including three minors, during a buy-bust operation in Ormoc City on Thursday.
Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr., PDEA Director General, identified the suspects as Bikal Boatan, 69, drug den employee, and a resident of Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc City; Jundy Songahid, 35, also a drug den employee, and a resident of Sitio Kanipaan, Brgy. Tam- bulid, Ormoc City; Julie Areño, 30, drug den employee, and a resident of Ormoc City; Leonardo Cesar, 19, a resident of Punta, Ormoc City; Rodolfo Villotis Jr., 19, a resident of Linao, Ormoc City; Romel Sepe Jr., 26, of Brgy. Tambulid, Ormoc City; Malik Yamla, 21; and three minors who are all residents of Linao, Ormoc City.
Cacdac said that based on reports, a PDEA poseur-buyer was able to enter into a transaction with Areño and Boatan last Thursday afternoon with the latter agreeing to meet at Barangay Tambulilid, Ormoc City for a drug sale.
Upon the pre-arranged signal, operatives of PDEA Regional Office 8 (PDEA RO8) under Director Laurefel P. Gabales, Ormoc City Police Office and Ormoc City Public Safety Company collared Areño and Boatan after they received the R500- marked money in exchange for the illegal drug.
Also arrested during the operation were five other drug suspects and three minors who were inside Bao’s residence doubling as drug den.
Cacdac said Faidah Bao, who is the subject of the operation and drug den owner, eluded arrest.
The confiscated pieces of drug evidence were three big pieces of heatsealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu, 41 small pieces of transparent plastic sachets containing shabu. In all, the haul weighed approximately 180 grams with an estimated street value of R1.44 million.
Bao will be facing charges for violation of Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Cases for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 7 (Employee of a Drug Den), and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165, will be filed against Boatan, Areño and Songahid.
The other four drug suspects will face charges for violation of Section 7 (Visitors of a Drug Den), while three minors were turned- over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office, Tacloban City.