Four drug busts yield P610K in ‘shabu’

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino and Jomarie A. Billones

BACOLOD City – Eight persons were arrested in four separate buy-bust operations here and in Negros Occidental from June 19 to 20, which resulted in the confiscation of P610,000 worth of illegal drugs.

Arrested at Barangay Estefania here Thursday were Julie Rose Chiong, 30, and Rodnel Tiberio, 27, both residents of Barangay 35, and Peter Ku, 39, of the said village.

Personnel of Police Station 3 conducted the buy-bust against Chiong.

Police recovered from them eight sachets of suspected shabu weighing 18 grams worth P225,000, the P500 marked money, and drug paraphernalia.

All three suspects are detained at Police Station 3.

Also arrested here yesterday was Raffy Lagunday, 18, of Barangay Tangub, after he allegedly yielded seven sachets of suspected shabu worth P35,000, and the P300 marked money. He is detained at Police Station 8.

In Silay City, Mercy Solano, 59, of Barangay Mambulac was nabbed at the said village yesterday for alleged sale and illegal possesion of dangerous drugs.

She is a high value target, police records showed.

Police operatives confiscated from her six sachets of suspected shabu weighing 10 grams worth P150,000, drug paraphernalia, the P500 marked money, P4,000 boodle money, and P28 cash.

In Victorias City, Arjay Suarez, 29, of Barangay 3; Carl Wayne Dolorosa, 29, of Barangay 21; and Jeff Michael Barredo, 22, of Manapla town were collared at Barangay 3 last Wednesday, after police recovered from them 17 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 20 grams and valued at P200,000.

Police also seized from them drug paraphernalia, motorcycle, the P400 marked money, and P650 in cash.

In Roxas City, Capiz, two drug personalities were arrested afternoon of June 19, 2019 in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) in Barangay Bolo.

Police identified the suspected drug dealers as Francis Villaranda, 26, of Barangay Punta Tabuc, and John Kelly Depiedra, 18, of Barangay Bolo, both in Roxas City.

According to Police Lt. Colonel Julius Balano, PDEU team leader, Depiedra has been under surveillance for months already.

The suspects strongly denied selling illegal drugs.

Recovered from the suspects were four sachets of suspected shabu, P1,000 marked money, three units of cellular phones and drug paraphernalia.

The two are facing charges of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.