Ex-con, pal nabbed in P1.122-M Roxas City hotel drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two persons were arrested in a police anti-illegal drug operation evening of Oct 22, 2022 inside a hotel in Roxas City, Capiz.

Sean Vidal, 38, of Barangay Basiao, Ivisan, Capiz, allegedly connived with Russel Abellar, 23, of Barangay Loctugan, Roxas City, in his illegal drug trade.

Vidal is a high-value individual and on the top 4 of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) watchlist in Capiz province.

Abellar, a street-level pusher, acted as Vidal’s runner.

Members of the Capiz Police Provincial Office-Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Unit (Capiz-PPDEU) and Roxas City Component Police Station carried out the buy-bust operation against the suspects who were billeted at Midtown Hotel in Barangay III, Roxas City.

The suspects allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer for P7,000.

Master Sergeant Aljun Berdugo of CPPO-PPDEU said operatives further seized 33 sachets of suspected shabu and other drug paraphernalia.

The seized drugs weighed around 165 grams with a standard drug price of P1,122,000.

Berdugo said Vidal was also previously arrested for illegal drugs.

But he was released from incarceration after availing of the government’s plea-bargaining agreement.

After he was released from jail, Vidal went into the business of selling “bote-bote” or bottled gasoline.

But it appeared to be a front for his illegal drug trade.

He then hired Abellar, a farmer, as his runner.

The suspect apparently had made connections while in jail.

“He also been sourcing his supply from Luzon,” Berdugo said.

Vidal has been on police surveillance for quite some time already.

Berdugo also confirmed that Vidal and Roberto dela Cruz are associates.

Dela Cruz, 59, Barangay San Jose, Roxas City, was arrested with P4 million worth of shabu in a police checkpoint at Barangay Bailan, Pontevedra, Capiz on Oct 10.

Berdugo said Vidal and dela Cruz reportedly got their shabu supply from the same source.

Just like dela Cruz, Vidal and Abellar would also be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).