Bacolod and Silay police seize P904K in shabu

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Police arrested last week three individuals possessing suspected shabu valued at P904,400 across Bacolod and Silay Cities in Negros Occidental.

In what is deemed the largest recent drug seizure, operatives from the Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit (SOU)-6 confiscated 107 grams of the suspected illegal substance valued at P727,600 during a buy-bust operation at a motel in Barangay 6.

The arrested suspects were identified as Christian Lachica, 22, a construction worker from Barangay 13, and Jemmuel Lucanilao, 23, an event organizer from Barangay 36.

The police initiated the operation upon receiving tips about the suspects’ purported illegal activities. Both are currently held at Police Station 2 pending drug charges.

Subsequently, a former drug surrenderer was apprehended during another operation in Sitio Lupa, Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City, with the seizure of 26 grams of suspected shabu worth P176,800.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, city police chief, stated that Eric Ardenio, 45, previously surrendered through Oplan Tokhang in January 2018.

Ardenio, however, did not complete his community drug rehabilitation program as he reportedly tested positive for drugs at the time, Darroca explained.

He was re-arrested two months later for a drug-related offense and subsequently released the next year under a plea bargain, according to Darroca.