AT LEAST one suspect was killed and four others were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Eastern Visayas from November 22-23, 2020.
In Maasin City, a buy-bust operation turned bloody after the suspect, identified as Gerry Calunod, fired his handgun toward the arresting police officers on November 23.
On November 22, police arrested 52-year-old Ludivico Vicuña, who has been listed as street-level individual (SLI) of Alangalang Municipal Police Station in Leyte.
Purchased from the suspect was one sachet of shabu, while confiscated from his possession were four sachets of the same substance worth P2,500, buy-bust money, and an envelope.
On the same day, personnel from Sogod Municipal Police in Southern Leyte and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Eastern Visayas arrested 31-year-old hairdresser Adel Aniga.
Aniga is a watch-listed drug personality, police said in the report.
Aniga yielded one sachet of shabu as subject of sale, while confiscated from him were one sachet of shabu worth P1,000, buy-bust money, and other personal items.
In Julita, Leyte, operatives from Julita Municipal Police Station, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), and PDEA arrested 28-year-old Dexiel Peleño.
Peleño, who has been considered an SLI, allegedly sold one sachet of shabu during the buy-bust operation.
Also confiscated from his possession were two sachets of shabu weighing one gram and worth P15,000 and buy-bust money.
Representatives from the barangay, media, and Department of Justice were present during the inventory of recovered and seized pieces of evidence, according to the police.
In Hernani, Eastern Samar, police, PDEU, Provincial Intelligence Unit and PDEA arrested a 60-year-old suspect during the buy-bust operation on November 22.
Purchased from Marcos Abaloyan, who was listed as high-value target, were two sachets of shabu.
Confiscated from him were buy-bust money and three sachets of shabu.
The suspects will be facing charges for violation of sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (SunStar Philippines)