13 nabbed, P497,000 worth of ‘shabu’ seized in busts

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police arrested 13 persons and seized P497,080 worth of suspected shabu here and in various areas in Negros Occidental on September 8 and 9.

Among the arrested was a 20-year-old man, who is back in jail after he was busted with 27 grams of suspected shabu worth P183,600 in Purok Bolinao, Barangay 1 here last Friday.

Operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) apprehended Jomar Biñas, 20, of the said village.

Police Captain Joven Mogato, CDEU head, said the suspect was previously arrested for illegal possession of drug paraphernalia and was released from jail last year through plea bargaining.

Mogato said that charges for the sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs were filed against the suspect the following day.

In Negros Occidental, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 1, Moises Padilla town last Saturday.

Major Jovito Bose, town police chief, said that Ryan Dominggo, 40, of Barangay Inolingan was arrested for possessing 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000.

Bose said they subjected Dominggo to the operation after they received information linking him to the illegal drug trade.

Bose said the suspect has no derogatory record upon verification with the Army. He’s been a member of the Cafgu for three years now, the police chief added.

Bose said the suspect is one of the alleged big suppliers of illegal drugs in the town and the neighboring town of La Castellana.

Also, an alleged drug den was dismantled by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Negros Occidental in a drug bust on Ylagan Street, Barangay 6, San Carlos City last Saturday.

Police identified the subject as alleged drug den maintainer Amado Palabrica, 53, of the said village.

Police Captain Ryan Villasario, deputy chief of San Carlos City Police Station, said that four others, including two male teenagers aged 17 and 18 were allegedly caught visiting the drug den.

PDEA confiscated 12 grams of suspected shabu worth P81,600, an improvised tooter, and three lighters.

Villasario said they have yet to check the background of the arrested suspects.

Further, buy-bust operations were also conducted in the cities of Cadiz, Himamaylan, and Victorias, and the town of Hinigaran, resulting in the confiscation of P129,880 worth of suspected shabu from six persons.