6 nabbed in massive PDEA operations
CEBU CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Thursday announced the conduct of consecutive anti-illegal drug operations in different parts of the country, which resulted in the arrest of six drug personalities.
In his report to PDEA Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac Jr., Director.Jeffrey A. Bangsa of PDEA Regional Office 7 (PDEA RO7), said police operatives conducted a buy-bust operation along Governor M. Roa Street, Brgy.Camputhaw, Cebu City which resulted in the arrest of Ryan Arias 28 of Duljo Poblacion, Cebu City; and a 17-year-old teenager from Alingarong, Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
Confiscated during the operation were one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu weighing five grams, the buy-bust money and the one Yamaha Mio scooter the suspects used in transporting illegal drugs.
Arias is facing charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165, while the minor was turned over to the Cebu City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) for custody.
In another buy-bust operation conducted on July 17, operatives of PDEA Regional Office 1 under Director Adrian G. Alvariño, Currimao Police Station, Ilocos Norte Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, Provincial Intelligence Branch-Provincial Public Safety Company and Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office arrested four drug suspects who agreed to sell one piece heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur-buyer.
The arrested suspects were identified as Josephine Torralba, 50; Racquel Gamponia, 37; Liza Riñen, 43; and.Franklin Gorospe, 46; all residents of Algoog, Badoc, Ilocos Norte.
Also confiscated from the suspects were an owner-type jeep and the buy-bust money used during the operation.
Torralba, Gamponia, Riñen and Gorospe were charged for violation of Section 5, Article II of RA 9165.
On the same day, the same law enforcement unit implemented a search warrant against Ariel Manuel, 39, in his residence in Mambug, Santiago, Ilocos Sur that led to his arrest.
Allegedly seized from Manuel were seven pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu. He was charged for violation of Section 11, Article II of RA 9165.
Meanwhile, million worth of fullygrown marijuana plants were destroyed by operatives of the PDEA and the Philippine National Police. (PNP) during marijuana eradication in Tinglayan, Kalinga on July 18. No cultivator was arrested during the operation.
Cacdac said the destroyed and burned-on-site marijuana plants were uprooted from a plantation site with an estimated land area of 800 square meters.
“With this recent eradication operation, we continue to remind the public to to remain vigilant against illegal drug activities,” Cacdac said.