BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The police seized P3.8 million worth of suspected shabu in a series of buy-bust operations during the weekend in Bacolod City, that led to the arrest of four drug suspects, according to city police director PCol. Joseph Thomas Martir.
The biggest haul was made by Station 8 Drug Enforcement Team led by Purok Kahirup, Brgy. Singcang Airport, Bacolod City, on Saturday night, that led to the arrest of Joey Piestaño and the recovery of about 450 grams of suspected shabu.
Martir said that the confiscated drugs had a market value of P3.06 million.
A separate buy-bust operation also on Saturday night at Puro Matahum in Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City, by the City Drug Enforcement Unit also led to the apprehension of another drug suspect identified by the police as Joebert Carian,alias Kulot, of the place.
Martir also disclosed that the arrest of Carian yielded an estimated 81 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P550, 800.
Carian is categorized by the police as High Value Individual drug personality.
It was followed by another drug-bust operation yesterday in Purok Lampirong, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, that led to the arrests of Mark Arevalo, 22, alias Jeje, and Jeremy Booc, 20, both residents of the place.
The buy-bust operation of Station led by PCapt. Paul Vincent Pendon yielded 41 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P278,800, Martir further said.
The police also seized a total of 71.5 grams of suspected shabu with a market Value of P94,424 from eight more arrested drug suspects in series of buy-bust operations in different towns and cities of Negros Occidental, on March 11 and 12, respectively.
Nabbed were Randyl Rodriguez in Silay City, Ferdinand Hilado and Rolando Ubas Jr in La Carlota City, Ramon Avena Jr in San Enrique, Joemarie Tio in Escalante City, Richard de la Torre in Cadiz City, Christine Alegato in Toboso, Alfer Laurente and Ivan Mahilum in San Carlos City, police records show.*
