Couple in P72-M drug bust nabbed

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A couple who was linked to the P72-million drug recovery in 2018 at Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental were arrested for the sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs last week.

After 10 months of hiding, police collared on July 4, 2019 Armando Paracuelles, 52, and his wife, Josephine, 47, both residents of Barangay San Isidro, Calatrava town.

Police Lieutenant Colonel D’ Artagnan Katalbas Jr., San Carlos City police chief, said they first warrant (with no bail) they served on Thursday was for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

It was issued on April 15, 2019 by Judge Estefanio Libutan Jr. of the Regional Trial Court Branch 57.

The following day, another arrest warrant (with no bail) for violation of Section 11 (illegal possession of dangerous drugs) of RA 9165 was also served to the couple at San Carlos City Police Station.

The Paracuelles couple, who were both the subject of the buy-bust operation on August 8, 2018 at Barangay Palampas, escaped along with a certain Ronnie “Putot” Recomo.

The Paracuelles couple is now in police custody while Recomo remains at large.

The P72-million drug haul was the biggest in Western Visayas last year.