BIGGEST HAUL. The 22 packs of shabu seized from suspect Gilbert Lumanog, a resident of Poblacion, Pinamungajan, Cebu, listed as a high-value individual in Region 7, are displayed for inventory after the biggest haul in Lapu-Lapu City on late Wednesday (Oct. 21, 2020). Police Regional Office-7 Director, Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, on Thursday (Oct. 22, 2020) says the police is now pursuing other members of the Titing Laureciana Drug Group. (Screengrab from Lapu-Lapu City Hall PIO video)
CEBU CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO-7) in Central Visayas has vowed to pursue the drug syndicate behind the PHP150.28 million worth of shabu busted in a joint operation in Sitio Sudtungan, Barangay Suba-Basbas, Lapu-Lapu City late Wednesday.
PRO-7 director, Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, on Thursday said this is so far the biggest drug haul in Central Visayas since his assumption as the region's top cop, adding that this has been traced to the “Titing Laurenciana Drug Group”.
The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office arrested one suspect identified as Gilbert Lumanog, a resident of Barangay Poblacion in the west Cebu town of Pinamungajan, and identified as a high-value individual because of his wide illegal drug trade.
Lumanog yielded 22 packs of shabu carefully sealed in Chinese tea bags which, Ferro believes, is a “signature pack” of a drug triad.
The police, he said, is now verifying the link of Lumanog to the Titing Laurenciana Drug Group, an illegal drug trade responsible for bringing the bulk of illegal drugs from Manila to the provinces in the Visayas,
“Siya ra (Lumanog) in this operation, but we will have to follow up operations on his possible connection to the group,” Ferro said.
Ferro recalled that the Cebu City Police Office has already seized six to seven kilos of shabu in this capital city.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan praised the city police chief, Col. Clarito Baja, for the big drug haul.
“If you analyze the quantity, many brains will get damage if they use this 22.1-kilos of shabu. We are one with President (Rodrigo) Duterte in the fight against drugs,” Chan said in Cebuano in a video posted on social media.
Ferro said the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in the region is verifying the quality of the drugs seized from Lumanog. (PNA)
