TWELVE persons were arrested in separate operations in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023.

Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 first raided a drug den at 4:30 p.m. in Bentong Hills, Sitio Lutaw-lutaw where they caught seven persons having a shabu session.

They also found their target, 42-year-old Antonio Laput, the owner of the house and the target of the operation.

They identified the other suspects as Mary Jane Medece, 22; Marites Geoman, 24; Ronnie Saleno Jr., 44; and brothers Tereso Villaver Jr., 41, and Wesley, 50, and their cousin Ricky Villaver, 31.

Two hours later, PDEA 7 operatives went to Purok 3 where they raided two houses.

They first arrested their target, 24-year-old Neco Saballa, and his 40-year-old cousin Marlon, a tattoo artist.

A few minutes later, they went to a neighboring house where they arrested their target George Caburnay, 18.

They also took into custody brothers Mark Wayne Godinez, 24, and Wendel, 18.

An estimated P900,000 worth of shabu were seized during the three operations.

Caburnay and Mark Wayne, in an interview, said the illegal drugs were left in their possession the night before, adding that somebody was supposed to pick these up last Saturday in exchange for P1,500, but authorities got there first.

The two suspects said the shabu came from the Abuyog Penal Colony in Leyte.

According to Leia Alcantara, PDEA 7 spokesperson,

Laput, Neco and Caburnay will be charged with selling and possessing illegal drugs, while the nine others will face a case for visiting a drug den. (BBT / PJB)