Cebu designers arrested in drug buy-bust

CEBU CITY -- Four local fashion designers were arrested early Wednesday by police in a buy-bust operation at Wilson St., Lahug, this city, police said.

Reports showed that the suspect/seller was identified as Ivan Briones Belocura, alias Inday, 37 years old, single, fashion designer, and a resident of Cebu City.

A police officer from Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group-Central Visayas (RAIDSOTG-7), who acted as poseur buyer, arrested Belocura after the fashion designer handed a suspected Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MMDA), also known as "ecstacy," placed in a small-sized plastic, in exchange for P1,500 marked money.

Also arrested during the buy-bust operation were customers/buyers identified as Junjie Saavedra Ignacio, 24, single, designer by profession of Velpal I, Minglanilla, Cebu; Glenn Cardeño Libradilla, 23, single, designer from Mohon, Talisay City, Cebu; and Ryan Lariego Dumago, 31, single, designer/make-up artist from Tunghaan, Minglanilla, Cebu.

The police also recovered from the suspects five mobile phones and P1,500 cash believed to be illegal drug proceeds.

The suspects, according to police report, are now under the custody of Base Police Holding Cell of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas pending appropriate charges to be filed against them.

The recovered drugs were forwarded to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory Office-Central Visayas for chemical analysis. (JAC/Sunnex)