Two nabbed in P3.5-M drug bust

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and police arrested two persons in separate buy-bust operations here that yielded P3.5 million worth of suspected shabu last Saturday.

The first operation conducted in Barangay 10 here resulted in the apprehension of Noel Palacios, 22, of Barangay 3 here.

According to an agent of PDEA-Negros Occidental, Palacios was subjected to a bust after they received information about his alleged engagement in the illegal drug trade.

About 500 grams of suspected shabu worth P3.4 million and the P1,000 marked money were seized from Palacios.

PDEA said that Palacios allegedly acted as a drug courier, as he alleged that he was just asked by someone to get the illegal drugs from Barangay Sum-ag and deliver it to Barangay 2 here.

His allegations will be subjected to validation, according to PDEA.

The suspect is considered a newly-identified individual and also a high value individual due to the huge volume of drug recovery, the PDEA said.

Later in the evening, Nemia Jalando-on, 43, of Barangay Banago here, was also arrested in the said village.

PDEA confiscated from Jalando-on 20 grams of suspected shabu worth P136,000.

According to PDEA, Jalando-on is a regional-level target listed drug personality, as she is a noted drug pusher of the police and PDEA.

She was previously arrested for a drug offense but the case was dismissed, the PDEA said.

“Dugay na siya namon gina monitor pero galing wala na siya gatubang sa clients unless kilala niya gid,” a PDEA agent said.

The PDEA said that Jalando-on is allegedly one of the sources of illegal drugs in Barangay Banago.

Drug charges will be filed against the two suspects today, Feb. 6.