MILLIONS worth of substance believed to be shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) were confiscated in a raid conducted by joint operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office at the residence of a drug suspect in Talisay City on Thursday, July 25.
Based on the report of the PDEA-Western Visayas Director Alex Tablate, authorities implemented the search warrant issued by Judge Estefanio Libutan of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 50 against Rhodora Hamantoc, alias Neneng Dadong, at Block 20, Lot 27 Cedar St. Avida Village, North Point, Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
Arrested were Hamantoc, 57; Eul Vincent Suanico, 33, and Robert Discutido, 23, residents of Bacolod City; and Ellan Vhone Hamantoc, 19, a resident of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental.
Confiscated during the operation were six big packs and 16 sachets of substance believed to be shabu worth P4.42 million, one pouch, and a red and white Kate Spade brand used as container.
Tablate said a case for violation of Section 11 of Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165 is being prepared for filing in court against the suspects.
Based on information given by PDEA-Western Visayas agents, both Hamantoc and Cuadra previously resided in Purok Cagaycay, Barangay 2, Bacolod City. They had been under surveillance for weeks.
The arrested suspects were placed under the custody of PDEA agents, while illegal drugs charges are being prepared against them.