4 nabbed in Tapaz drug bust

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Four persons were arrested Thursday evening in a police-led drug buy-bust operation at Barangay Switch, Tapaz, Capiz.

The suspects are Rosie Gascon, 40, the subject of the operation; Raymond Galagate, 35, both residents of said barangay; Arnel Fabayos, 35, of Barangay Apero; and Jerson Liaban, 22, of Barangay Initan also in Tapaz.

Police claimed they were all classified as street-level individuals.

Recovered from the suspects were 11 sachets of suspected shabu, a cellphone, and the P1,500 drug buy-bust money.

Authorities said the substance weighed 10 grams and was valued at P68,000.

The operation was conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Tapaz PNP and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO).

Police Major John Almarino Bonior, Tapaz Municipal Police Station chief, said it took a month of surveillance on Gascon before the operation was conducted.

Bonior claimed that Gascon admitted to selling illegal drugs and that Liaban was her ‘runner’ and the other two were her clients.

The suspects will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.