• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
About P877,872 worth of suspected shabu and several unlicensed firearms were recovered by the police from 10 drug suspects in separate buy bust operations that took place in Negros Occidental, from February 14 to 16.
The apprehension of two armed suspects during a buy bust operation at Sitio Peñahon in Barangay Mina-utok, Calatrava, on Feb. 15, led to the confiscation of about 83 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P564,400.
The arresting police officers also recovered a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver with ammunition, according to reports of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
Another anti-drug operation led to the arrest of a suspect on Sunday in Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City, and the confiscation of about 14 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P95,200.
A 19-year-old suspected drug peddler was arrested by police and personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Sitio Bomba, Barangay Salvacion, Murcia, on Feb. 14. The apprehension yielded about 20 grams of suspected shabu with a market value of P136,000.
Another 19-year-old drug suspect is locked up in jail after his arrest at Purok Kabuhi in Barangay 10, Bacolod City, which yielded about 55 grams of suspected shabu valued at P192,500.
Three other drugs suspects were collared by the police on Feb. 15 in cities of San Carlos and Sipalay, as well as La Castellana, Negros Occidental, for having more than two grams of suspected shabu in their possession, according to NOCPPO reports.
On the same day, a fisherman identified as alias Wilson was apprehended by the police during a buy bust operation in Sitio Mambugaong, Barangay Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
His apprehension yielded a caliber .38 revolver with three ammunition and P2,200 in marked money.
Alias Kevin, a farm caretaker, was intercepted by the police at Comelec checkpoint in Barangay Lopez Jaena, Murcia, where during inspections, the Murcia police recovered a caliber .357 revolver with two rounds of ammunition. He is set to face charges for violation of the Comelec gun ban.*
