Police seize P8.5-M worth of ‘shabu’ for MassKara

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) prevented the circulation of illegal drugs in the MassKara Festival here following the seizure of 1,250 grams of suspected shabu worth P8.5 million from two persons in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 1 here yesterday.

Lieutenant Joven Mogato, head of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), identified the suspects as Alvin Cristales, 27, and Regina Escosio, 44, both residents of the said village.

Both are high-value individuals, according to the police.

Police also recovered from them the P3,000 marked money, a digital weighing scale, a pair of scissors, and P500.

Mogato said that Escosio, an alleged drug runner, reportedly picked up the contraband from someone in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental. He added that they are investigating the source of the illegal drugs, which is outside the province.

The seized illegal drugs which were sealed in a Chinese tea packaging were believed to be intended for the city alone.

Mogato said they have been monitoring the two suspects for months now, following information about their alleged engagement in the illegal drug trade.

The duo was previously arrested for a drug offense in 2017 and 2020, respectively.

Cristales was released through plea bargaining in 2020, while Escosio was released in 2021 and is now under probation.

Mogato said the demand for illegal drugs here may be high because supply was lessened following the big drug haul.

He said that monitoring is ongoing and their security measures at all entry points were strengthened, especially since the festival approaches the highlight week, wherein the influx of people is anticipated.

Both suspects are detained at Police Station 2.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, BCPO director, lauded the operating personnel for their relentless drive against illegal drugs here.

With the focused police operations especially during the celebration of the MassKara Festival, the BCPO vows to make this festivity crime and drug-free and that people will come to Bacolod to enjoy.

The BCPO continues to heighten the fight against all forms of criminality with the active support of the community.