DRUG BUST. Suspected drug pusher Trisha Galicia (2nd from left), a former personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Bacolod City, was arrested in a buy-bust conducted by the Special Enforcement Team of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas in Barangay Singcang-Airport on Wednesday (Feb. 3, 2021). The AWOL jail officer yielded four packs of suspected shabu with a value of PHP170,000. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-Western Visayas)
BACOLOD CITY – Two high-value drug personalities were arrested in separate buy-bust operations of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas (PDEA-6) here in the past three days.
On Wednesday afternoon, a rookie jail officer, who went absent without leave, was caught red-handed selling suspected shabu to an undercover agent along Galaxy Street, Henrietta Subdivision in Barangay Singcang Airport.
The suspect, identified as Trisha Galicia, a former personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology here, is a pusher under the Vargas Drug Group, a report of PDEA-6 said.
An agent, who was part of the operation, told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday that they are set to file cases against Galicia for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the City Prosecutor’s Office.
These include violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of Article II.
During the operation at around 5:40 p.m., Galicia sold a pack of shabu to the poseur-buyer and yielded four packs containing the same prohibited substance weighing about 25 grams with a value of PHP170,000.
The PDEA-6 operatives also seized from the suspect cash proceeds, a brown sling bag, and a Nissan Navarra vehicle with plate number FHM 699.
On Monday night, another high-value target, Romulo “Molle” Hamantoc, was arrested in Gardenville Subdivision in Barangay Tangub.
The suspect, who is number five in the PDEA-6 SET’s target list, sold a pack of shabu to an undercover agent during the operation at around 6:10 p.m.
Also found in his possession were two packs of shabu weighing about 15 grams and valued at PHP102,000.
Hamantoc was also charged for violation of Article II, Sections 5 and 11 of RA 9165. (PNA)
