SUSPECTED drug lord Joshua Bucog, 28, surrendered to veteran broadcast journalist Bobby Nalzaro past 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 22.

Bucog denied he is a drug lord. He admitted using illegal drugs, but he does not sell.

He was the subject of the drug bust by the operatives Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Central Visayas inside a pension house in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, last Sunday night. But he did not show up.

His alleged underlings Roy Estrera, 39, and Erwin Anthony Abellana, 42, were caught.

Seized from the suspects were 1.6 kilos of white crystals believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu," with an estimated worth of P6.3 million.

Aside from illegal drugs, also confiscated from the suspects were several drug paraphernalia, a weighing scale, a printer used as improvised heater, a .45 1911 Colt, eight bullets of a .45 pistol, a .45 magazine, four bullets of a 40mm rifle grenade; an Ingram M11 9mm, a magazine of an Ingram M11 9mm and five bullets of a .9mm pistol.

PDEA-Central Visayas Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz said negotiations with the group, which can dispose of around five kilos of shabu per week, began last November yet.

Bucog's group finally agreed to last Sunday's transaction, leading to the two suspects’ arrest.

Estrera and Abellana will face charges for violating Sections 5 (sale), 11 (possession of illegal drugs), and 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia) of the Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (KAL/SunStar Cebu)