• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
With the authorities’ goal to dismantle the circulation of drugs, the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station successfully arrested two drug personalities, leading to the recovery of P816,000 worth of suspected shabu on Wednesday at Purok LGM, Barangay II-Poblacion.
Arrested were the 50-year-old high-value individual identified as Christopher Tagamolila from Barangay 5, Kabankalan City, and his 36-year-old live-in partner, Ruga Garavan, a resident of Sitio Barangay, Barangay Enclaro in the town of Binalbagan.
Based on the information released by the Pontevedra MPS, the arrested male suspect was a former barangay kagawad in the town.
The operation was carried out after a former customer of the suspects indicated that they were currently in Pontevedra and actively engaged in the sale of illegal drugs. Acting on the report, intelligence operatives immediately conducted casing and surveillance operations to verify the information.
Upon confirmation of the suspects’ illegal activities, a buy-bust operation was promptly conducted where alias “Chris” handed over one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu to a police poseur-buyer in exchange for the marked buy-bust money.
As a result, at least 14 sachets of suspected shabu totaling approximately 120 grams, with a standard drug price of P816,000, were recovered by the responding police from their possession.
The confiscated drug evidence was submitted to the Negros Occidental Provincial Forensic Unit for laboratory examination, while the suspects are currently in the custody of Pontevedra MPS for proper legal disposition.
Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region Director PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay said in a statement that the regional police remains steadfast in its unwavering commitment to eradicate illegal drugs across the region, citing that the series of drug recoveries were a result of an effective intelligence unit.
“The Command calls on all Negrenses and Siquijodnons to remain vigilant and actively support law enforcement by reporting any information related to illegal drug activities in their areas,” it added.*
