BUSTED. Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrest another high-value target (HVT) in Pangasinan in a buy-bust follow-up operation on Jan. 27, 2021 at Barangay Tomana East in Rosales town in Pangasinan. The buy-bust operation resulted in the confiscation of suspected shabu weighing 50 grams worth PHP340,000. (Photo by Ahikam Pasion)
ROSALES, Pangasinan—The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has arrested another high-value target (HVT) in Pangasinan in a buy-bust operation Wednesday afternoon at Barangay Tomana East here.
In an interview on Thursday, PDEA-Pangasinan assistant provincial director Rechie Camacho identified the suspect as Macmod Cabugatan, a resident of Barangay Zone 2 Rosales town.
Camacho said the buy-bust operation was a follow-up on the search warrant implementation on Tuesday at Barangay Mabanogbog in Urdaneta City, resulting in the arrest of Yuri Salazar, the province’s top drug priority target, and four other individuals, the seizure of 16 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP108,000, and the dismantling of a local drug den.
“Salazar is in cahoots with Cabugatan ,” he said.
Wednesday’s buy-bust operation resulted in the confiscation of two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing 50 grams worth PHP340,000, and the recovery of one genuine PHP1,000 marked money, and 199 pieces of boodle money.
Authorities also confiscated one cellular phone and the motorcycle used by the suspect.
“The suspect attempted to escape after the exchange, causing him and another PDEA agent to accidentally fall to a nearby ridge. They were both grazed, but are safe,” Camacho said.
An interview with Cabugatan confirmed his involvement with Salazar and the drug trade.
“Kumukuha po ako sa Tarlac. Inuutusan po ako ni Yuri na kumuha po doon, tapos ideliver ko sa kaniya (I get the supplies in Tarlac. Yuri asked me to get from there and deliver it to him),” Cabugatan said adding he would then get a portion as profit from the drug trade.
Cabugatan said he knew Salazar back then because of the latter’s fruit business.
“Sa kaniya kami kumukuha ng mangga, doon kami nagkakilala (We get mangoes from him, that’s how we met each other),” he added.
Cabugatan is currently under the custody of PDEA and is facing charges in violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
