BCPO seizes PHP 11.9 million shabu

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Police Office seized PHP 11.9 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested three people, including two relatives, in separate buy-bust operations Thursday and Friday.

The largest recovery involved about 1.2 kilograms of suspected shabu worth PHP 8.16 million from a 44-year-old man identified only as “Ern” in Barangay 12 early Friday.

Police Maj. Eugene Tolentino, head of Police Station 1, said Ern, a resident of Barangay 3, claimed he works as a modernized jeepney driver.

Tolentino said the operation against Ern was launched after he was linked to previous drug busts in the area of Police Station 2, where large volumes of illegal drugs had been confiscated.

The recovered contraband was sealed in Chinese tea bag packaging and was believed to have been sourced from outside Negros Occidental.

Police said the seizure was the biggest drug haul of Police Station 1 under Tolentino, who was recently assigned to the station from Police Station 2.

Before the Friday operation, a man and his nephew were arrested after police seized 550 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 3.7 million in a lodging house in Barangay Singcang-Airport on Thursday.

Police identified the suspects as “Joa,” 35, and his uncle, Mark, 36, both residents of Barangay 3.

Police Maj. Rondyl Tapang, head of Police Station 8, said Joa was the subject of the operation.

Tapang said police also caught Mark allegedly about to finish repacking the contraband inside a room.

The two suspects were reportedly former construction workers who used their work as a front for their alleged illegal drug trade, Tapang said.

Police tagged them as high-value individuals because of the large volume of suspected illegal drugs recovered.

Tapang said the seized illegal drugs may have been sourced from Mindanao or Luzon and sent through a courier.

The two suspects were reportedly entrusted to distribute the drugs in Bacolod City, he added.

Both suspects were also reported to have links to individuals previously arrested for drug offenses in the area of Police Station 2, Tapang said.

The suspects will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

In a statement, Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, acting regional director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, said their campaign against illegal drugs remains firm and relentless.

Through sustained intelligence-driven operations and close coordination with communities, Cardiño vowed to continue pursuing drug personalities and ensuring that they are brought before the courts to face the consequences of their unlawful actions.

He commended the operating personnel for the successful operations, which he said reflected their unwavering commitment to protecting communities from the dangers of illegal drugs.