SK chairman, 16 others fall in drug bust

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Seventeen persons, including a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman were arrested for alleged sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs in Negros island from February 7 to 9.

Authorities seized a total of P767,040 worth of suspected shabu in 10 separate anti-illegal drugs operations in three days.

In Negros Oriental, SK Chairman Amado Villarin, 25, of Barangay Bairan, Vallehermoso town; and Joel Dumdum, 23, of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental were arrested in a buy-bust at Barangay Bairan last Friday, for the alleged confiscation of 12 sachets of suspected shabu worth P5,440, the P500 marked money, a motorcycle, and P250 cash.

In Dumaguete City, Edward Duran, 38, of Barangay Bantayan managed to escape during a drug raid at the said village that day. Police, however, recovered during the search 60 grams of suspected shabu worth P408,000.

Aside from the seizure of drugs in Negros Oriental, part of the total amount was also the confiscation of P212,000 worth of suspected shabu from six persons here and recovery of P413,440 worth of the same contraband from nine persons in Negros Occidental.

In Bacolod City, the operations were conducted at Barangays 33, Villamonte, and Banago, while other operations were conducted in the cities of Silay, Kabankalan, Cadiz, Talisay, and San Carlos in the province.