FOUR men were arrested in Sitio Babapo, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, during a joint operation conducted by members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit in Central Visayas (RPDEU 7) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA 7) on Wednesday night, February 8, 2023.

Major Joseph Aquino, PDEA 7 team leader, identified the suspects as Vince Castillo, a 46-year-old company driver; Jimmy Gecera, a 32-year-old habal-habal driver; Austrajay Mendoza, a 21-year-old fisherman; and John Paul Jabonero, a 36-year-old construction worker.

Apart from Jabonero, who is a native of Sogod in northern Cebu, the three reside in the barangay.

Aquino said they seized a kilo of shabu with an estimated worth of P6.8 million during the raid.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Ronnie Failoga, RPDEU 7 head, they were able to confirm the suspects’ involvement in the illegal drug trade after placing them under surveillance for two weeks.

He said Castillo rented a house in the sitio where the illegal drugs were stored. (BBT, PJB)