PDEA, cops seize P377,000 worth of ‘shabu’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the police arrested five persons and seized P377,400 worth of suspected shabu in separate buy-bust operations in Negros Occidental from September 22 to 23.

In Kabankalan City, 51-year-old Redeem Abadiano of Barangay 4 was arrested on Tan Lorenzo Street, Barangay 2 last Friday, after he allegedly yielded 25 grams of suspected shabu worth P170,000.

Also confiscated from Abadiano were the P500 marked money, a lighter, P305, and some personal belongings. The suspect is under the custody of PDEA-Negros Occidental.

In Silay City, a man was again arrested by police after he was busted with 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000 and the P2,300 marked money at Bonifacio Kalye Onse, Barangay 2 last Friday.

Police identified the suspect as Noli Dicto, 29, of the said village, who is tagged as a street level individual.

Police Major Rhea Sarah Villanueva, officer-in-charge of Silay City Police Station, said the suspect was apprehended for a drug offense in 2021 but was later released after he availed of the plea bargaining.

Villanueva said the suspect was an alleged supplier of illegal drugs in the said village.

Three other persons were also caught by police allegedly engaging in the illegal drug trade in the towns of Hinigaran and E.B. Magalona, and Victorias City. Police confiscated P105,400 worth of suspected shabu from them.