Minor, 7 others nabbed for ‘shabu’, ‘marijuana’

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Eight persons, including a 17-year-old boy were arrested in separate buy-bust operations here and in four areas in Negros Occidental from September 11 to 12.

In Silay City, Eldy Villarias, 39; Aldrin Katipunan, 33; and a minor whose name was withheld, all residents of Barangay Guinhalaran, were arrested at the said village last Wednesday.

Police recovered from them six sachets of suspected shabu weighing 12 grams worth P180,000, drug paraphernalia, the P500 marked money, P60 cash, and P5,500 boodle money.

Villarias is a target-listed drug personality while Katipunan and the minor are newly-identified drug personalities in the city, police records showed.

Also arrested last Wednesday here was Virgelio Rivera Jr., 29, of Barangay Pahanocoy here.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Negros Occidental seized from Rivera 1.5 kilos of suspected dried marijuana leaves worth P180,000, and an improvised pipe in a transaction held at Barangay Mandalagan here.

According to the PDEA, the contraband is reportedly being shipped from Cebu City to Bacolod.

But, Rivera, in a media interview, said that he allegedly gets the item from a supplier here.

He admitted engaging in the illegal drug trade, claiming he is being told to deliver the items to their clients and he will be given his commission from the transaction.

Rivera will be charged for sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs, and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

In Victorias City, Jason Albis, 28, of Barangay 20 was also arrested that day at Barangay 13, after he allegedly yielded 13 sachets of suspected shabu worth P40,000, the P400 marked money, and P500 cash.

In Sagay City, police arrested on the same day Catalina Bautista Rico, 30, of Barangay Vito, for the alleged confiscation of three sachets of suspected shabu, the P500 marked money, and P45,120 cash.

Personnel of Police Station 4 here also arrested Juliet Solomon, 19, of Barangay 27 here after police confiscated from her four sachets of suspected shabu worth P34,000, and the P500 marked money.

The following day, Albert Arcangel of Barangay 3, E.B. Magalona town was arrested at Barangay Batea after police seized from him three sachets of suspected shabu, the P500 marked money, and drug paraphernalia.