• GILBERT P. BAYORAN / THERESA MAE DULMAN / RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Authorities have seized about P11.5 million worth of suspected shabu in separate anti-drug operations on August 14 and 15 in Negros Island, following the apprehension of six drug suspects.
A joint operation of the police and operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Aug. 14 led to the arrest of Franklin Miral, 41, during an anti-illegal drug operation at Purok Kalubihan, Barangay Bajumpandan in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
The apprehension of Miral, of Bacong, Negros Oriental, yielded 1.5 kilograms of suspected shabu valued at P10,200,000.
A buy bust operation on Aug. 15 at Purok Cereza South in Brgy. 3, Bacolod City, which was conducted by the local Drug Enforcement Unit also led to the arrest of Roberto Artieda and Rey John Masula, both residents of the place.
The police also seized about 110 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P748,000.
PDEA operatives also confiscated an estimated 68 grams of suspected shabu valued at P462,800, from an arrested drug suspect identified only as alias Lovely, 33, single, and jobless, at Purok Fire in Brgy. 8, Bacolod City on Thursday.
The suspect was caught in possession of 19 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated weight of 68 grams, buy-bust money, an improvised glass tooter with traces of suspected shabu, digital weighing scale, cellular phone, three pairs of scissors, two pieces plastic straws used as improvised scoop, two pieces disposable lighters, and a blue purse.
Two other drug suspects identified as Rolan Becera and Reynold Larita were apprehended by the police at Spur 16 in Brgy. Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, which led to the seizure of an estimated 24 grams of suspected shabu valued at P163,200.
In a statement, PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region, lauded the different police units for a job well done in their sustained campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.*
