Trio yields P550K worth of shabu

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Felipe V. Celino

Three persons were arrested for possessing shabu valued at P550,000 during an anti-narcotics operation in Roxas City, Capiz afternoon of Jan 8, 2020.

The suspects were identified as Nemesio Legayada, 45; Kirtneill Recibe, 25; and Michael Abilibit, 35.

Members of the Capiz Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (CPPO-PDEU) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA-6) arrested the suspects 3:40 p.m. of Wednesday at Barangay Jumaguicjic.

The suspects yielded six sachets of suspected shabu, P1,000 marked money, illegal drug paraphernalia, and a caliber .45 pistol.

While police valued the 41 grams of seized shabu at P550,000, the PDEA-6’s estimate was P278,000.

Alex Tablate, PDEA-6 regional director, said they based the value on the agency’s standard reckoning of P6,800 per gram.

Cases for violation of sections 5 and 11 of Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms Ammunition Regulations Acf) are now being prepared against the suspects.

Reports indicated that Recibe is on the watch list of the PNP and PDEA.

Police Colonel Julio Gustilo, Capiz police director, said the suspects are believed to be “down lines” or distributors of the late Kagawad Oneal “Dodoy” Arandez.

On Jan. 7, unidentified gunmen shot dead Arandez in an auto repair shop at Cagay village, Roxas City.

Arandez, who was once linked to the illegal drug trade, was declared dead on arrival at Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds.