2 big shabu suppliers in Davao nabbed
-A A +ASaturday, February 23, 2013
DAVAO CITY – Authorities arrested two drug pushers who are believed to be among the big suppliers of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in this city.
The suspects were identified as Rahima Mamaswar Kabugatan, a 35-year-old farmer, and Benjie Bangcula Omali, a 32-year-old driver, both residents of Barangay Kalanganan 2 in Cotabato City.
Kabugatan and Omali were arrested in a buy-bust operation inside a restaurant in Quezon Blvd. in Barangay 23-C on Friday.
Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier identified Barangay 23-C as a "shabu tiangge" (drug den) due to the rampant illegal drugs trade in the area.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa said two self-confessed drug pushers from Barangay Ilang who surrendered to his office positively identified Kabugatan and Omali as among the biggest suppliers of drugs in their area.
Recovered from the suspects were one small sachet of shabu, P500 marked money and plastic sachets containing shabu amounting to at least P120,000.
Personnel from the DCPO, Investigation and Detection Management Branch, Sta. Ana Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency launched the operation.
One of the police officers acted as a poseur buyer and as the suspects handed out a sachet of shabu, the policemen made the arrest.
The suspects are now detained at the DCPO and are facing charges for violation of the Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Duterte earlier said they have been monitoring the Barangay 23-C under village chief Amilbangsa T. Manding and were able to detect the regular delivery of illegal drugs.
Duterte said authorities were also able to take photos of buyers and sellers of illegal drugs in 23-C, some of whom even onboard SUVs.
Duterte gave Manding 48 hours to eradicate illegal drugs in his area, which the vice mayor described as rampant.
Duterte has also offered P5,000 and later P10,000 cash reward to those who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of drug pushers or users in Davao City.
The vice mayor made the offer after he warned cohorts of slain police officer Allan Borling Balingit to leave this city.
Balingit was killed after resisting arrest in a police operation in Barangay 40-D, Bostin Isla last February 2. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on February 24, 2013.
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