More than P500-K in ‘shabu’ seized

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police seized P553,800 worth of suspected shabu in three separate buy-bust operations here and in Negros Occidental from October 7 to 9, 2021.

The biggest drug recovery was reported in San Carlos City last Friday, which led to the arrest of Mel Gleen Vista, 36, of Barangay Rizal, a businessman.

According to Police Captain Roger Pama, deputy police chief of San Carlos City Police Station, Vista was previously arrested but was released through plea bargaining.

Pama said the suspect was considered a high value target.

The Philippine National Police (PNP)-Drug Enforcement Group (DEG)-6 led the operation against Vista, who allegedly yielded 55 grams of suspected shabu worth P374,000, and P11,000 boodle or fake money.

In Talisay City, Girly Duena, 28, of Barangay Zone 12 was arrested last Thursday after police recovered P23,800 worth of suspected shabu, the P500 marked money, and P700.

In Bacolod, seven persons were apprehended in Barangay 27 last Saturday.

Joint operatives of PNP-DEG-6, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Negros Occidental arrested Michael Pallan, 47, Benjie Rubio, 40, and Jonathan De Asis, 52, all residents of Barangay 27 here, Engelbert Natividad, 36, of Barangay Granada here, Jake Maravilla, 43, of Barangay Taculing here, June Molina, 34, of Himamaylan City, and Marry Babor, 39, of Kabankalan City.

Police confiscated from them 12 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 23 grams worth P156,000, the P1,000 marked money, P8,000 boodle money, and drug paraphernalia.

All seven suspects are detained at Police Station 4.