More than P1M worth of ‘shabu’ seized

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An estimated P1,107,500 worth of suspected shabu were seized in four separate drug raids and buy-bust operations in Negros island from Aug 3 to 5, 2019.

In Negros Oriental, 31-year-old Joey Sarino was arrested yesterday after police raided his house at Barangay San Miguel, Bacong town through a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio Jr. of Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Dumaguete City.

Authorities recovered during the search 11 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 115 grams worth P782,000, three weighing scales, three lighters, five tooters, and a plastic straw.

A report from Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) said Sarino is on the drugs watch list of the province.

On August 3, six persons were arrested after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Negros Occidental dismantled an alleged drug den at Barangay Banago here.

PDEA-Negros Occidental head Nicolas Gomez said they secured a search warrant from Regional Trial Court Judge Edgar Tupas against Jennifer Magbanua, who was allegedly maintaining a drug den at the village.

“It took us weeks to document her illegal drug activity to support the application of the search warrant,” he added.

Also arrested in the alleged drug den were Nerra Acibug, Franklin Belecina, Risty John Miravelece, Ludovico Sagal, and Nilo Boy Arcenio, who were allegedly caught holding a “pot session” during the raid.

PDEA confiscated from them 11 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 45 grams worth P306,000.

Magbanua will be charged for violation of Sections 6 (maintaining drug den), 11 (illegal possession of dangerous drugs), and 12 (illegal possession of drug paraphernalia) of the Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while five others will be charged for visiting a drug den and illegal drug use.

Also arrested last Saturday in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental was Rubemie Detosil, 38, of Barangay Caduhaan, a construction worker, for the recovery of six sachets of suspected shabu worth P12,500, and the P500 marked money.

The following day, two persons were arrested at Barangay Dulao, Bago City, after they allegedly yielded five sachets of suspected shabu worth P7,000, an improvised tooter, the P200 marked money, and P213 cash.