BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Suspected shabu with a market value of P6.1 million was recovered by the police from a suspected local drug group leader and five other suspects, in separate buy bust operations from Aug. 14 to 15, in Negros Occidental.
PCol. Thomas Joseph Martir reported last night the confiscation of about 206 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P1,400,800, from Jeboy James Poneles, during a buy-bust operation on Monday night at Purok Kahirup in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.
Martir, the Bacolod City Police Office director, disclosed that Poneles, 21, who was apprehended by the City Drug Enforcement Unit and Regional Special Operations Group 6, has been categorized as a High Value Individual in illegal drugs operation.
PLt. Judesses Catalogo, spokesman of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, also reported yesterday the arrest of Jonalyn Bugalon, alleged leader of the Bugalon Drug Group, and Juanito Artisano Jr. during a buy bust operation in Purok Paraiso, Brgy, Hilamonan, Kabankalan City.
Catalogo said the arrest of Bugalon, 49, alias of Mommy Ging, and Artisano Jr. by operatives of the NOCPPO Drug Enforcement Unit yielded an estimated 130 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P884,000.
On Sunday night, policemen also seized 635 grams of suspected shabu from an arrested drug suspect identified as Ahzer Villarosa at Purok Masinadyahon, Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City.
The confiscated shabu has a market value of P4.3 million, according to BCPO deputy spokesperson, PLt. Liberty Indiape.
Two other drug suspects identified by the police as Juning Jalandoni and Justiano Pequiz were also arrested in Calatrava and Talisay City, Negros Occidental, yielding 2.4 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P17,000.
PCol. Leo Pamittan, NOCPPO provincial police director, who congratulated the police units for a job well done, ordered a more vigorous battle against the proliferation of illegal drugs.
On the other hand, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez ordered the BCPO to intensify their monitoring of illegal drugs, ahead of the MassKara Festival which is set to begin on October 1.
Benitez also ordered the BCPO to further intensify their monitoring, particularly at the city’s BREDCO and Banago ports, as it could be used as entry points for illegal drugs.
He also requested the deployment of K9 dogs in the two Bacolod City ports in order to boost their surveillance and monitoring operations.*
