P912,000 worth of shabu seized in 4 drug raids

NEGROS. An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducts an inventory on the recovered P510,000 worth of illegal drugs in a raid in Barangay Rizal, Silay City, on July 28, 2018. (Silay City Police Station Photo)
NEGROS. An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducts an inventory on the recovered P510,000 worth of illegal drugs in a raid in Barangay Rizal, Silay City, on July 28, 2018. (Silay City Police Station Photo)

AN ESTIMATED P912,000 worth of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) was seized in separate anti-illegal drug operations in Negros Occidental.

In Silay City, three persons were arrested after the city police, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), raided the house of target-listed Sammy Aguirre and his son Alson, a level-three high-value target, by virtue of a search warrant in Villahergon, Barangay Rizal, on July 28.

Superintendent Noel Polines, city police chief, said the two target subjects were able to escape by passing through a tunnel at the piggery toward a creek.

They were able to sense the presence of the operatives because of the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras that were installed 100 meters away from the gate of their house, Polines said.

Polines also said the wall at Aguirre's house measures eight-feet, wherein they can hide their illegal activities inside the compound.

"They are armed and considered to be dangerous," Polines said.

Also arrested during the raid were Sammy's wife Alma, 48, a newly-identified drug personality; Alson's partner, Rodjilyn Santosidad Pelota, 20, a drug surrenderer; and the family's courier, Bryan Serano, 20, a newly-identified drug suspect.

Authorities recovered from them 15 sachets of suspected shabu worth P510,000, sling bag, P249,400 in cash, deposit slips, flash drive, drug paraphernalia, a motorcycle key, digital camera, tablet, and several cellular phones.

Police also seized from Sammy's room a .45 caliber with five magazines, seven live ammunition, and 32 fired bullets of .9mm caliber, holster, two handcuffs.

Police also endorsed to the City Environment and Natural Resources a Brahman kite locally known as "dapay" that was rescued from Aguirre's house.

Polines said Alson is a trusted man of Silay City's high-value target Michael Divinagracia, who remains at large.

Aguirre's family is under Divinagracia's drug matrix, he added.

Polines said police tried to conduct operations against Alson but the operatives have difficulty in arresting him because he is allegedly being protected by nearby residents because he is considered "Robinhood" in the village as he is helping them in case of emergency.

Polines said Alson is considered to be an HVT in the city because he is an alleged big supplier of illegal drugs in the city and neighboring localities E.B. Magalona, and Victorias City.

He said they cannot tell Alson's source of illegal drugs yet but they are looking into a possibility that Divinagracia continues to supply him with the contraband.

Polines said the family considered the illegal drug trade as a "business," as they are making it as their source of income.

They have been placed under surveillance for a month, he added.

Charges for illegal possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia will be filed against the five suspects today.

Additional charges for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition will be filed against Sammy.

With the arrest of the Aguirre family members, Polines said it will somehow paralyze their operations of illegal drugs.

In Bacolod City, the level-two high-value target drug personality of Western Visayas, a trusted man of the late suspected drug lord Richard Prevendido, and his partner were arrested in a drug bust in Barangay Estefania on July 28 that led to a confiscation of P300,000 worth of illegal drugs.

Police identified the suspects as target subject Andresito Palabrica Jr., and his partner Joan Villasor, a newly-identified drug personality, both natives of Iloilo City.

Authorities recovered from them 11 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 25 grams, the P1, 000 marked money, two coin purses.

Inspector Adrian James Albaytar, assistant team leader of City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), said Palabrica and Villasor transferred to Bacolod for a year already following the death of Prevendido, leader of Prevendido Drug Group in Iloilo, in September 2017.

Albaytar said Palabrica is Prevendido's trusted man and is tasked to expand their operations in Bacolod and Negros Occidental since they have difficulty to market the contraband in Iloilo after the intensified operations of police against drugs in the Panay area.

Albaytar said they were able to monitor Palabrica for one month through their intelligence reports and coordination with other operatives in Iloilo.

He said Palabrica is the only member of Prevendido drug group that has been monitored to be distributing illegal drugs in the province from their sources in Iloilo.

However, Palabrica did not mention any names that can also lead to his sources, Albaytar added.

Both suspects are detained at Police Station 4 and will be facing charges for sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs.

Also arrested in a drug bust in Barangay Vista Alegre on Saturday were target subject Jessie Dela Cruz, 46, a drug surrenderer; and newly-identified drug personalities Felicidad Dela Peña, 53; Alfredo Fernandez, 53; Reize Derla, 56; and Rolly Comcom, 30.

Chief Inspector Ramel Sarona, head of Police Station 7, said these suspects yielded nine sachets of suspected shabu worth P78,000, pouch, and the P500 marked money.

All five suspects are detained at Police Station 7.

On July 27, Rusty Bibar, 32, and Juan Demetillo, 50, were arrested in a buy-bust at Barangay Villamonte after police seized from them seven sachets of suspected shabu worth P24,000, the P500 marked money, an improvised tooter, and a lighter.

Both suspects are detained at Police Station 4.

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