Google map of the Zamboanga Peninsula.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have arrested six suspects and seized illegal drugs with an estimated street value of PHP2.4 million in separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte provinces, police officials said Wednesday.
The arrested suspects were identified as Ronilo Toting Obedas, 46, a baker; Neil Ampoller Sasing, 32, a mechanic; Mark Jay Jumawan Sumera, driver; Gladys Baunillo Gulle, 36; Marjon Balios Purton, 37; and Alecia Cadungug Baunillo, 55.
Col. Diomarie Albarico, Zamboanga del Sur police director, said Obedas, Sasing, and Sumera were arrested in a buy-bust at a hotel in Barangay San Pedro, Pagadian City at about 7:25 p.m. Tuesday.
Albarico said the operation was launched after the suspects agreed to transact illegal drugs with an undercover policeman.
Seized from the trio were suspected shabu valued at PHP2.3 million, two mobile phones, and the boodle money used as bait.
Meanwhile, Col. Glenn Dulawan, Zamboanga del Norte police director, said Gulle, Purton, and Baunillo were also nabbed in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Nipaan, Sindangan at about 1:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Seized from the suspects were suspected shabu valued at PHP68,000, a stack of bait money, two mobile phones, a motorcycle, and other pieces of evidence.
All the arrested suspects were detained while charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were being readied against them.
The arrest of the suspects came four days before the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s launch of its "Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan" (BIDA) program in Zamboanga Peninsula on May 6.
The program involves the participation of partner national government agencies, local government units, the private sector, faith-based organizations, civil society organizations, and barangay officials in the campaign against illegal drugs. (PNA)
