ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Police operatives arrested two high-value targets (HVTs) and four other drug personalities and seized some PHP771,000 worth of illegal drugs in separate operations in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), officials said Monday.
Brig. Gen. Froilan Quidilla, Police Regional Office (PRO-9) director, identified the arrested high value target suspects as Cesar Toribio, listed as Top 5 Regional Priority Target on Illegal Drugs (PTID); and Hasmer Ahmad, 29, a high-value individual in the anti-drug campaign.
Quidilla said Toribio was arrested in possession of PHP50,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP500 marked money in an intelligence-driven anti-drug operation around 6 p.m. Saturday in Purok Natin, Barangay Goodyear, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Ahmad, meanwhile, yielded some PHP686,000 worth of suspected shabu and 14 pieces boodle money topped with one genuine PHP1,000 bill as marked money when arrested in a buy-bust operation around 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Barangay Sta. Catalina here, police said.
Police identified the other arrested suspects as Ernesto Aligada, 28; Nikko Aligada, 23; Michael Abellon, 28; and Rajib Sangkula, 21.
Quidilla said the Aligadas and Abellon were arrested around 7:20 p.m. Sunday in a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Roque here, and yielded some PHP10,000 worth of suspected shabu, and PHP200 marked money.
On the other hand, Capt. Edwin Duco, Zamboanga City Police Office information officer, said the arresting team recovered from Sangkula some PHP25,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP500 marked money when arrested late Saturday in Barangay Kasanyangan here.
Quidilla said appropriate charges will be filed against the suspects. (with reports from Salvador A. Santiago/PNA)
