2 ‘drug pushers’ arrested in separate operations

Saturday, February 11, 2012

A SUSPECTED drug courier was arrested at a checkpoint in Barangay Canduman in Mandaue City yesterday, while a man, who is allegedly in the watch list of drug pushers, fell during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Umapad the previous day.

In Barangay Canduman, a 34-year-old man was arrested at a checkpoint yesterday morning for possession of packs of shabu worth about P30,000.

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Rolando Pepito, from Barangay Bagay, Daanbantayan, was arrested by operatives of the Canduman Police Station after he was caught allegedly carrying four medium packs and a small pack of suspected shabu.

SPO1 Tirso Plaña of the Canduman Police Station said the policemen led by Chief Insp. Oscar Monterroyo were conducting a checkpoint in Barangay Canduman at 10:30 a.m. yesterday when Pepito, who was riding a habal-habal or motorcycle-for-hire, was passing by.

At that point, Pepito allegedly threw a plastic pack, but one of the policemen noticed this.

Another policeman took the pack and found it was filled with small packets containing suspected shabu.

Admission

The policemen immediately arrested Pepito and brought him to the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) for questioning.

Pepito, in an interview, admitted to getting the drugs from Sitio Dita in Barangay Pulangbato, Cebu City.

He said he was sent there by a certain Alex from Daanbantayan to collect the drugs.

After doing so, Pepito then hired a habal-habal to take him to Barangay Yati in Liloan but was caught at the checkpoint.

Pepito said he was instructed to take a bus from Liloan to Daanbantayan.

Plaña said that they will charge Pepito with violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

In Barangay Umapad, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 agents stormed the lair of a “level two” drug pusher inside a subdivision before noon last Thursday.

Jason Ponce Capangpangan, 36, was arrested during the buy-bust at 11:40 a.m.

Watch list

Intelligence Officer 2 Gelou Paca of PDEA 7 said the suspect belonged to the watch list of alleged drug personalities.

Capangpangan was classified as a level two drug pusher, or one who could sell 200 grams to 2,000 grams of shabu each week.

Seized from his possession were four small sachets of shabu worth P1,200 and drug paraphernalia.

A poseur-buyer negotiated with Capangpangan and handed over the marked money. He was not able to resist when agents placed him under arrest.

Paca told Sun.Star Cebu the suspect was placed under surveillance for almost a month after he was sighted.

“There was an attempt to arrest him before, but was able to run,” he said in Cebuano.

Paca added the suspect was uncooperative with them when asked of his source.

Capangpangan will face a criminal complaint for violating RA 9165.