DRUG BUST. Police anti-drug operatives seize 255 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP1.73 million from a 19-year-old student (face covered with face towel), during a buy-bust in Purok Tahong, Barangay 2 in Bacolod City on Tuesday afternoon (June 27, 2023). The suspect, who is a college student, has been tagged as a high-value individual. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)
BACOLOD CITY – Police drug enforcement teams seized suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP3.04 million during five major operations in three cities in Western Visayas in the past two days.
The largest haul of PHP1.73 million led to the arrest of a 19-year-old drug personality in Barangay 2 here Tuesday afternoon during the operation conducted by the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit (SOU) - Western Visayas and Bacolod City Police’s Station 2.
Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor, director of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas), said on Wednesday the accomplishment is a result of “aggressive law enforcement operation coupled with the active support of the community.”
“We aspire to have (a) drug-free Western Visayas. Let us help each other for a progress future for our children,” he added.
The arrested college student, tagged as a high-value individual (HVI), was arrested at 1:44 p.m. in Purok Tahong after selling a medium sachet of shabu to an undercover policeman.
Operatives recovered from his possession 50 medium plastic sachets of shabu with an estimated weight of 255 grams with an estimated street price of PHP6,800 per gram.
On Tuesday night, suspect Lyle Infante, 37, was arrested with 15 grams of shabu valued at PHP102,000, along Gonzaga Extension, Purok Kawayan in Barangay 28 here.
He sold a sachet of the prohibited substance for PHP1,000 to a poseur-buyer from the joint team of Police Station 6 and PDEG SOU-6 at about 8:20 p.m.
Considered a street-level individual (SLI), Infante yielded three sachets of shabu weighing 15 grams along with other items, among them a digital weighing scale, analog mobile phone, and PHP46 cash.
In Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, operatives arrested another HVI, Jonathan “Bayong” Gasalao, 40, at his residence in Purok Matawhay, Barangay Binicuil after selling PHP500 worth of shabu to a poseur-buyer at about 6 p.m. on Monday.
Seized from his possession were 16 plastic sachets of shabu, including the buy-bust item, weighing 60 grams valued at PHP408,000, as well as an improvised glass tooter with traces of shabu, three disposable lighters, and PHP231 cash.
Over in Iloilo City, two drug personalities were arrested during a buy-bust that resulted in the recovery of PHP340,000 worth of shabu in Barangay South Baluarte, Molo District on Tuesday afternoon.
The suspects were identified as Ramesiz “Tiloy” Vega, 41, an HVI, of the same village, and Vic Nelly Belonio, 48, an SLI, of Purok Bangros, Barangay 1, Bacolod City.
Both yielded 19 plastic sachets of shabu weighing 50 grams and two small plastic sachets of marijuana leaves, and several non-drug items during the operation conducted by the Iloilo City Police Office’s (ICPO) Drug Enforcement Unit and Police Station 4.
Before midnight on Monday, operatives of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 and ICPO Police Station 5 apprehended two other HVIs during a sting operation in Jalandoni Extension, Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao District.
They were identified as Efren “Bogs” Fabrigar Jr., 40, and Rem Glenn “One Shot” Villaluna, 37, who both have criminal records and were previously jailed for drug-related cases.
The suspects yielded 67 grams of shabu amounting to PHP455,600, along with a red Honda Click motorcycle, two mobile phones, PHP470 cash, and other non-drug items. (PNA)
