11 nabbed, P888-K worth of drugs seized in Bacolod, Silay

BACOLOD CITY – A total of 11 persons were arrested while PHP888,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in three separate operations in the cities of Bacolod and Silay in Negros Occidental over the weekend, police reports said.

In Bacolod, Andresito Palabrica Jr., one of Western Visayas’ high-value targets under Iloilo’s Prevendido drug group, and his common-law wife Joan Villasor, were apprehended in a buy-bust operation conducted by operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit led by assistant team leader, Insp. Adrian James Albaytar.

During the operation on Mt. Mandalagan Street, Villa Estefania in Barangay Estefania around 8 p.m. on Saturday, the couple sold PHP1,000 worth of suspected “shabu” to a police poseur-buyer.

They yielded about 25 grams of the prohibited substance valued at PHP300,000.

Palabrica and Villasor were detained at Police Station 4.

Meanwhile, operatives of Police Station 7 led by Chief Insp. Ramel Sarona arrested five persons in a buy-bust at Bacolod’s Abada-Escay relocation site in Barangay Vista Alegre at around 7:20 p.m. Saturday.

Police identified the suspects as Jessie de la Cruz, 46; Felicidad de la Peña, 53; Alfredo Fernandez, 53; Reize Derla 56; and Rolly Comcom, 30.

Operatives seized six elongated and three big sachets of suspected “shabu” with an estimated street value of PHP78,000.

At around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, four persons were arrested while PHP510,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in a raid conducted by joint anti-drug and police operatives at a residence in Silay City.

The police report identified the four as Alma Aguirre, Alson Aguirre Rodjilyn Santosidad, and Bryan Serrano.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6, in a separate report, said the operation was launched against subject Sammy Aguirre at Villa Hergon, Barangay Rizal through a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court -Silay Judge Celeste Bernad.

Aguirre, eluded arrest.

The raiding team confiscated 15 sachets of suspected “shabu” weighing around 75 grams valued at PHP510,000, the report added.

Also seized were cash amounting to PHP249,400 along with a .45 caliber Caspian pistol with seven live ammunition, 32 bullet shells of caliber 9mm, two handcuffs, five firearm magazines, 13 units of cellular phones, one computer tablet, and drug paraphernalia.

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During the operation, the PDEA-6 agents were joined by personnel of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Silay City Police Drug Enforcement Unit, and Special Weapons and Tactics team of Regional Mobile Group-6.

The report said the suspects will be charged with violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) and Section 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia) under Article II of Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The Saturday raid came three days after the Silay City Police drug unit arrested two suspects and seized PHP200,000 worth of “shabu” at Rizal Proper, also in Barangay Rizal.

The buy-bust was conducted at around 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, which led to the arrest of Edward Rubio and Felixberto Garcia.

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Environment enforcers of the city government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) arrested on Saturday a truck driver for transporting pangolin meat and preserved marine turtles.

Arrested was Joshue Calinog of Barangay Jolo, Roxas, driver of the truck intercepted at a checkpoint in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, while transporting 21 pangolins (Manis culionensis) and 16 marine turtles around 5:28 a.m.

Calinog, who was also found to be carrying a 38 caliber pistol, was bringing his illegal cargo from Roxas to the city proper, said Emer Garraez of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

She said Calinog’s arrest is attributed to their intensified monitoring activities in cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP), and Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).

“This is the result of our strengthened monitoring of trucks and vehicles that pass by the checkpoint. When this truck got here, it was inspected and pangolins and sea turtles were discovered. We coordinated with the PNP and the PCSD because they are the main implementers of the wildlife law,” she said.

Charges will be filed against Calinog for violation of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of the Philippines (RA 9147).

Garraez said they are still investigating Calinog to provide the identity of the owner of the illegal wildlife shipment. He was alone in his truck when it was stopped by CENRO enforcers and policemen.

Meanwhile, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Felizardo Cayatoc of the local DENR, lauded the efforts of environment enforcers who were able to block the prohibited shipment of pangolin meat and sea turtles.

“They were not concealed, they’re on the back of the truck that’s just open and inside sacks. Nobody will suspect that what he’s carrying is actually banned wildlife. This checkpoint and its vigilance are effective in ensuring illegal wildlife transporting will not happen, particularly if done with the PNP,” Cayatoc said.

He said the sea turtles’ flesh or meat had already been removed and preserved using formaldehyde with only their heads and shells undamaged.

Cayatoc said he suspects there is a buyer of the illegal shipment in Puerto Princesa since pangolin meat is used as Chinese medicine while turtle shells are for decorations.

“Pag-dinala na yan sa Manila, naka-chopped na at hindi na yan mahalata ng mag-inspection, kasi para na lang chicken meat (If you bring that to Manila already chopped, the inspector won’t suspect they are pangolins since they look like chicken meat),” he said.