• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Three separate anti-drug operations carried out by Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) on Thursday evening led to the seizure of 520 grams of suspected shabu with standard drug value of over P3.5 million, bringing the total value of confiscated drugs in the first two days of MassKara Festival alone to P5.47 million.
The first buy-bust operation was conducted at around 7:30 p.m. in Calong-Calong, Zone 3, Bangga Saling, Barangay Singcang-Airport, which resulted to in the arrest a high-value individual (HVI) identified by the alias “Pindot,” 27, and a resident of Barangay Banago.
During the operation, police recovered from his possession approximately 170 grams of suspected shabu valued at P1,156,000. Recovered also was a unit of Yamaha NMAX which was allegedly used for transporting drugs.
Minutes later, another anti-drug operation was conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) along Roxas Avenue Purok Lilac in Brgy. Avenue, in Brgy. 40. The operation resulted in the arrest of another HVI named by the alias “Kwa-Kwa,” 41, and a resident of Barangay Mandalagan, and the recovery of 100 grams of suspected shabu amounting to P680,000.
Police said that the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant regarding the suspect’s involvement in illegal drug activities in the city.
Furthermore, at around 8:48 p.m., BCPO Station 2 carried out another buy-bust operation at Purok Barracuda, Barangay 1, which led to the arrest of three individuals and the confiscation of 7 sachets of suspected shabu, weighing a total of 250 grams with standard drug value of P1.7 million.
Arrested were alias “Mark,” and alias “Reniel,” 22, both tagged as HVIs by the police, and alias “Dave,” 23, a street-level individual. All are residents of the city.
The suspects were now under police custody and will face criminal charges in violation of RA9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act, while the recovered drug items were brought to Negros Occidental Forensic Unit for proper and legal disposition.
On the opening night of the festivity, more than P1.9 million worth of the shabu had been recovered by the authorities.
Police Regional Director PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay released a statement reaffirming the police effort to closely monitor the entry of drugs into the city, especially during the celebration of the MassKara festival.
“The Masskara Festival embodies the spirit of joy, unity, and resilience of Bacolodnons. We will not allow illegal drugs to cast a shadow on this celebration or endanger the lives of our people. These operations are proof of our relentless commitment to protect the community and ensure that Bacolod City remains safe, vibrant, and drug-free,” he said.*
