Kerwin’s man falls; P6M shabu seized
Over P6 million worth of shabu was confiscated by the police in a series of anti-drug operations that arrested at least six people, including a former anti-narcotics agent, barangay official from Baybay, Leyte, and an underling of suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
Couple Jesryl and Jean Bacalla were arrested by the operatives of Cebu City Police Office led by Senior Superintendent Joel Doria during a buy-bust operation Wednesday evening in Sitio Kamalig, Barangay Labangon.
The couple was considered high value targets and among the top drug personalities on the watch list of Baybay City Police Station. Jesryl alias Kapre is allegedly an underling of Espinosa. His wife, Jean, is an incumbent councilwoman of Zone 3 Barangay Poblacion, Baybay City.
The police conducted the buy-bust operation against the couple Wednesday evening after receiving information of their illegal drug trade. An undercover policeman transacted with them resulting in their arrest.
Doria said a total of 500.5 grams of shabu were confiscated from the couple with an estimated value of P5.9 million. Jesryl denied reports linking him to the drug syndicate of Espinosa. He said he is just a small player selling drugs to sustain his vice.
Jean also denied any involvement in the illegal drugs operation of her husband, claiming that she only came to visit him.
But Police Officer 3 Richard Macahig, desk officer of Baybay City Police Station, told The FREEMAN that Jesryl is on top of their watch list and is considered high value target.
Barangay Captain Maria Jane Fulgar, of Zone 3 Barangay Poblacion, Baybay City, said Jean had been marked absent without official leave (AWOL) after she failed to attend their session for the past two months.
"Dugay nana siya walay apil-apil sa amo activity ug session kay ni awol siya duha na ka buwan kay sige siya larga-larga sa Cebu," Fulgar said.
The arrest of the Bacallas stemmed from the information provided by a drug suspect earlier arrested by the members of Pardo Police Station during a checkpoint. Senior Inspector Robert Lucernas, Pardo Police Station chief, said they arrested Mark Anthony Abay, 37, a resident of Bulacao, Talisay City, after he tried to evade a checkpoint.
Lucernas said at least P30,000 worth of shabu was confiscated from Abay during his arrest. The suspect told the police during interrogation that he got his supply from a certain Titing, who was later identified as Moises Arriesgado, a former agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Using Abay's cellphone, the police made a transaction with Arriesgado, resulting in his arrest and the confiscation of another P20,000 worth of shabu.
Arriesgado squealed to the police that his supplier was from Labangon. Lucernas said he immediately coordinated with the City Intelligence Branch and the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group. A buy-bust operation was hatched resulting in the arrest of the Bacalla couple.
LILOAN
In another operation, suspected drug pusher Julfran Angtud, a resident of Purok Mangga, Barangay Jubay, Liloan, was arrested during a raid yesterday morning. The police seized at least P150,450 worth of shabu from his possession.
The town's police operatives raided Angtud's residence by virtue of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 28 Judge Judge Mercedita Dadole-Ignacio in Mandaue City.
Aside from the illegal drugs, the police also seized a hand grenade, one M203 grenade, five rounds of shotgun ammunition, one improvised shotgun, one knife, one bolo and several drug paraphernalia.
Angtud was also on the police list of suspected drug
personalities in Liloan.
CARCAR CITY
Meanwhile, suspected drug personality Lesley Nacario, 43, was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Poblacion I, Carcar City. The police raided his residence based on a search warrant issued by RTC Branch 18 Judge Gilbert Moises in Cebu City.
The police seized 15 grams of shabu from his possession with an estimated value of P177,000.
Criminal charges are now being prepared by the police for filing against all the arrested suspects.