• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Anti-drug operatives of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrested seven suspects and seized approximately P952,000 worth of suspected shabu in back-to-back operations conducted on Saturday, December 27.
The operations, led by the City Drug Enforcement Unit, resulted in the confiscation of a combined 140 grams of the illegal substance and the apprehension of two high-value Individuals (HVIs) alongside five street-level individuals (SLIs).
The first strike occurred at approximately 12:48 a.m at Purok Lubi, Barangay 3, where a buy-bust led to the arrest of six individuals.
Among those apprehended was a 40-year-old suspect identified as Mark Escobar, who is classified as an HVI and a resident of Barangay Sampinit, Bago City, Negros Occidental.
The other five suspects, identified as alias ‘Leo,’ 49, from Bacolod; ‘Clint,’ 23, from Silay City, Negros Occidental; ‘Aaron,’ 19, from Silay; ‘RL,’ 32, from Bacolod; and ‘Rodart,’ 46, from Silay, were categorized as SLIs.
Police recovered approximately 80 grams of suspected shabu during the raid, with an estimated value of P544,000.
A second operation followed at 5:40 a.m. at Purok Tahong, Barangay 2, Bacolod City, targeting another HVI identified as 29-year-old alias Christopher, also known as Yuri.
The sting yielded roughly 60 grams of suspected shabu valued at P408,000.
In addition to the illegal drugs, operatives recovered one thousand pesos in marked buy-bust money, several heat-sealed sachets, and one knot-tied plastic sachet containing the illegal substance.
The recovered evidence has been submitted for laboratory examination to confirm the nature of the substance.
The seven suspects remain in police custody and are facing criminal charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The Bacolod City Police Office stated that it remains steadfast in its intensified campaign against illegal drugs and encouraged the community to remain vigilant in reporting suspicious activities.*
