P2.1-M worth of drugs seized in two days

By: Glazyl Masculino

BACOLOD City – An estimated P2,143,500 worth of suspected shabu were seized in four separate buy-bust operations in Negros island in the past two days.

On Aug 20, 2019, the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) seized about 225 grams of suspected shabu worth P1.4 million from Maricar Chavez, 32, of Barangay 22 in a transaction held at Barangay Tangub here.

Police recovered from Chavez eight sachets of suspected shabu, and the P1,000 marked money.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, public information officer of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said they have been monitoring Chavez’s illegal drug activity for some time now.

Pico said Chavez is identified as a high value target because of the confiscation of more than 10 grams of illegal drugs.

The CDEU is still probing the source of the illegal drugs.

The drug haul came almost two weeks after the confiscation of P1.8 million worth of suspected shabu from Khalid Diacat, 18, a native of Lanao del Sur, who was arrested in a drug bust at Barangay Vista Alegre on August 9.

Meanwhile, Chavez, who claimed to be the sister of Charlie Chavez, former captain of Barangay 22, said she was just asked to deliver the item, which is her way of supporting her child.

She denied the recovered big sachets of suspected shabu during the operation.

“Gina sugo lang ako. Pero indi to akon ang dalagko nga nakuha. Natingala ko kung diin to halin,” she said in a media interview. She is detained at Police Station 8.

The following day, Daud Barani, 23, a native of Iligan City, was arrested at Barangay Sum-ag here on August 21 after he allegedly yielded 11 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 43 grams worth P537,500, the P1,000 marked money, and P500 cash.

Barani, a newly-identified drug personality, is detained at Police Station 3.

In Silay City, Negros Occidental, Manny Pasco, 29, of Barangay Vista Alegre here was arrested at Barangay 5 for the confiscation of seven sachets of suspected shabu worth P105,000, and the P500 marked money.

Police Major Rollie Pondevilla, city police chief, said Pasco is a high value target, and a member of an organized crime group here.

Pasco is the second most wanted person of Police Station 7 here, police records showed.

Pondevilla said he has an arrest warrant with no bail for murder.

In Negros Oriental, Leonardo Lisondra Jr., 31, of Barangay Mag-aso, Dauin town was arrested at Barangay Tabuc-tubig, Dumaguete City yesterday.

Police recovered from him eight sachets of suspected shabu worth P101,000, the P1,000 marked money, another P1,000 cash, a .22-caliber revolver, and eight rounds of .22-caliber ammunition.

Lisondra is on the drugs watch list of the Dumaguete City Police Station.