ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Six people, including three high-value drug personalities, were arrested while some PHP3.4-million worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate buy-bust operations in the Zamboanga region, a top police official said Tuesday.
Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) director, identified the arrested drug personalities as Merlyn Aliasman; Joel Hernando, 31; Isa Munap, 28; Eulalio Gabales, 43; Cid Jimenez, 47; and Charles Magcanta, 26.
Licup said Aliasman, Hernando and Munap were arrested in a buy-bust operation by joint police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives at a pension house along Gov. Camins Ave., Barangay Canelar, this city at about 11:30 a.m. Monday.
Confiscated from the three were 500 grams of suspected shabu packed in 11 heat-sealed plastic sachets worth PHP3.4 million, nine bundles of boodle money topped with one genuine PHP1,000 used as buy-bust money, a paper bag, and two cellular phones.
Licup said Gabales and Jimenez yielded some PHP20,000 worth of suspected shabu when arrested in a buy-bust operation near a resort in Barangay Minaog, Dipolog City at about 7:20 p.m. Monday.
Jimenez is an employee of the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Confiscated from them were two cellular phones, PHP500 marked money, and other illegal drug paraphernalia.
Licup said Magcanta was caught in possession of some PHP30,000 worth of suspected shabu when arrested in a buy-bust operation by joint police and PDEA agents in Barangay Sta. Filomena, Dipolog City at about 5:20 p.m. Monday.
Also recovered from Magcanta’s possession were PHP500 marked money, and a cellular phone.
Licup said charges are being readied against all arrested suspects. (PNA)
