Five nabbed for illegal drug trade in Capiz

By Felipe V Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Five persons including two fruit vendors were arrested in two separate operations Saturday and Sunday evening here and in Panay town.

The Capiz Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PPDEU) of Capiz Police Provincial Office together with the Special Drug Enforcement Team(SDET) of Panitan Municipal Police Station and Maayon Municipal Police Station in Barangay Tanza Sur, Panay, Capiz arrested at 10:53 pm on October 1, 2023, at Barangay Tanza Sur Panay, Capiz the following persons:

-Hermie Buenvinida, Alias “Bani” 39, of Barangay San Jose, Roxas City;

-Norberto Balbona , 49, of Brgy. 1, Roxas City, Capiz; and

-Famy Lipura, 25, of Sitio Tambak, New Washington in Aklan.

Recovered from the trio were 10 grams of suspected illegal drugs valued at P68,000, the P100 marked money, fake money bills used as marked bills, 2 pouches, and 2 sling bags.

Reports from Panay Municipal Police Station indicated that the suspects were alleged street-level individuals (SLI).

Meanwhile, two fruit vendors were arrested in another drug buy-bust operation Saturday evening at Barangay Banica, Roxas City.

Police identified the suspects as Edilberto Laserna Jr., 31; and Lilibeth Borines, 53, both residents of said village.

Reports from the Roxas Component City Police Station indicated that the two were classified as High-Value Individuals (HVI) in the drugs watchlist of the police.

Recovered from the suspects were 19 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 55 grams with an estimated street value of P374,000; P100 marked money; and fake money bills used as marked money.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) were filed against them before the City Prosecutor Office on Monday.

The two fruit vendors are presently under the custody of the Roxas City Component City Police Station while the three others were detained at Panay Municipal Police Station.