Four arrested in Bacolod for P840,000 worth of ‘shabu’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY—Four individuals, including a couple, were arrested in separate buy-bust operations on Monday and Tuesday, resulting in the seizure of suspected shabu valued at P840,344.

On Tuesday, police in Barangay Pahanocoy confiscated 97.58 grams of suspected shabu, valued at P663,544. Jonel Bonza, 44, from Barangay Cabug, and Meliton Litsado Jr., 30, from Barangay Mansilingan, were arrested. Both are considered high-value targets by the police.

Police Major Eugene Tolentino, head of Police Station 8, noted that both suspects had previous drug-related arrests. “They have been under surveillance for over a year,” Tolentino stated, adding that Litsado is also on the drug watchlist of Police Station 7. According to Tolentino, Bonza allegedly coordinated with clients while Litsado acted as his drug runner.

In a related operation on Monday, Leonida Norbe, 65, and her husband John Norbe, 49, residents of Barangay Mandalagan, were arrested for possessing 26 grams of suspected shabu worth P176,800.

Police Captain Portia Nillosan, head of Police Station 5, explained that the couple was targeted after investigations linked them to the drug activities of a nephew who was arrested earlier this year. “Monitoring the couple took months before we could proceed with the operation,” Nillosan remarked.

During the arrest, police also recovered a firearm from Leonida’s husband.