AN ESTIMATED P2,078,000 worth of illegal drugs was seized in separate drug busts in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City in the past two days.
In Bacolod City, a former village watchman and his alleged runner were arrested in Barangay Banago on Saturday, February 9.
Police recovered about 150 grams of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P1,875,000, the P2,000 marked money, drug paraphernalia, coin purse, and five live ammunition of a 12-gauge shotgun.
Police identified the target subject as Randy Benjamin, 39, a former watchman of the said village; and Jamil Equital, 22, of Barangay 2.
Their companion, Leoner Jalando-on, 35, of Barangay Banago managed to escape during the operation.
Chief Inspector Ruel Culanag, head of Police Station 3, said Benjamin was placed under surveillance for two weeks. He is a newly-identified drug personality.
Culanag said Benjamin reportedly gets his supplies from Manila, but refused to reveal the name of the supplier.
He also allegedly distribute the items to neighboring cities.
Benjamin and Equital, who are detained at the police station, refused to be interviewed.
Also arrested in the city on the same day were Bernadette Prado, 36, and Jeric John Medel, 23, both residents of Barangay Mansilingan.
Police seized from them seven sachets of suspected shabu worth P7,000, the P500 marked money, and drug paraphernalia.
Both are detained at Police Station 7.
In San Carlos City, Jason Arile, 30, of Barangay 3; Manuel Uy Jr., 39, of Barangay 5; Janine Shane Villamor, 26, of Antipolo, Manila; and Mariel Castellano, 19, of Barangay Rizal were collared over the weekend in Barangay 4.
The suspects allegedly yielded 10 sachets of suspected shabu weighing seven grams worth P84,000, the P500 marked money, holster, .9mm caliber revolver, and three live ammunition of the said firearm.
In Cadiz City, John Mark Wayco, 28, of Barangay Andres Bonifacio, a newly-identified drug personality, was arrested in Barangay Luna on Saturday.
Police confiscated from Wayco four sachets of suspected shabu worth P14,000, the P500 marked money, an improvised tooter, motorcycle, and wallet.
In Manapla town, Edgardo Edaño, 34, of Barangay 1 was arrested in the said village after he was allegedly caught in possession of four sachets of suspected shabu worth P4,000, and the P500 marked money.
In Escalante City, Milende Siarot, 24, of Barangay Balintawak, a newly-identified drug personality was arrested in Barangay Utdongan on Saturday after police seized from him four sachets of suspected shabu worth P2,000, the P500 marked money, and drug paraphernalia.
On February 8, Joseph Embarque, 45, of Barangay 1, Kabankalan City, a level one high-value target, was arrested in Barangay 1 for the alleged sale and illegal possession of nine sachets of suspected shabu worth P30,000, the P500 marked money, drug paraphernalia, and P8,307 in cash.
Also arrested on Friday, February 8, inside a pension house in Barangay 12, Bacolod City were Freia Ambino, 38, of Barangay Taculing, and Lowel Lumayad, 38, of Barangay Mansilingan.
Chief Inspector Jovil Sedel, head of Police Station 1, said Lumayad is a former traffic enforcer, a high value target, and a durg surrenderer.
Police recovered from them nine sachets of suspected shabu worth P24,000, the P200 marked money, and coin purse.
In a separate operation, Alberto Penequito, 49, of Barangay Punta Taytay was arrested in the said village on the same day.
Police confiscated from Penequito 10 sachets of suspected shabu worth P24,000, the P300 marked money, and coin purse. He is detained at Police Station 9.
In the same city, Jonjie Glimada, 39, of Barangay Handumanan was arrested in Barangay 18 after he allegedly yielded three sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, the P300 marked money, and P130 in cash.
Daniel Polintan, 28, of Barangay 26; and Mark Anthony Damiao, 35, of Barangay Handumanan were arrested in Barangay Taculing after they allegedly yielded four sachets of suspected shabu, the P300 marked money, and drug paraphernalia.
All three suspects are detained at Police Station 6.
Last week, Rolito Bartolome, 38, of Barangay Handumanan was arrested in the said village after police seized from him six sachets of suspected shabu worth P12,000, the P200 marked money, and a cigarette pack. He is detained at Police Station 10.
In La Carlota City, Neonel Recasa, 46, of Barangay 2, a high value target, and a drug surrenderer was arrested in the same village. He allegedly yielded two sachets of suspected shabu worth P1,000, and the P500 marked money.
Also arrested in the said city was Relyn Mapas, 32, of Barangay 2 after police recovered from her two sachets of suspected shabu worth P1,000, the P500 marked money, pouch, and drug parpahernalia. She is a high value target and a drug surrenderer.
In Salvador Benedicto town, Joemel Rodriguez, 29, of Barangay Kumaliskis was arrested in Barangay Igmaya-an after police confiscated from him a sachet of suspected shabu, the P200 marked money, a cellular phone, a motorcycle, and P900 in cash.
In Silay City, Hilbert Calvo, 32, of Barangay Tanza, E.B. Magalona town was served with an arrest warrant for a drug offense.
Police recovered from him five sachets of suspected shabu, an improvised tooter, and a lighter.