Drugs worth P22 million seized in 3-day ops

CEBU, Philippines —  More than P22 million worth of illegal drugs were hauled in Central Visayas in a span of three different buy-bust operations last week.

The operations were conducted by different units of the Police Regional Office-7 in various areas of Cebu, including Mandaue City and the Province of Negros Oriental.

Arrested totaled seven drug personalities, including a big-time drug pusher, following extensive drug-bust operations.

Past midnight Friday, Lunicito Labitad, also known as Looney, 38, was apprehended by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Consolacion Municipal Police Station, both of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 in Sitio Upper Bagacay, Brgy. Tayud, Consolacion, Cebu.

Confiscated from the suspect’s possession was approximately two kilograms of a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu with a standard drug price of P13.6 million.

Labitad was labeled by the authorities as a big-time drug pusher.

A day after, Jeremie Ragasajo Sun, also known as “Opaw”, 40, of Sitio Baktan, Brgy. Sapangdaku, Cebu City, was apprehended by the personnel of the City Intelligence Unit or the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), for possessing 600 grams of illegal drugs worth more than P4 million based on the standard drug price at 5:40 p.m. on January 28 at Larazabal Street, Brgy. Subangdaku in Mandaue City.

On the same day, at around 9:55 night, joint operating teams of the Provincial Intelligence Unit or the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) and Compostela Municipal Police Station arrested Jason Labostro Matugas with 52.5 grams of shabu worth P357,000 in Compostela, Cebu.

Ten minutes later, the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of Guadalupe Police Station, nabbed Imelda San Pedro Merecidio, a 52-year-old female high-value individual, at Paseo Arcenas Drive, Brgy. Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Yielded from San Pedro Merecidio of Sitio Deca Homes, Minglanilla, Cebu, was about 150 grams of shabu worth more than P1 million.

At around 11:00 p.m. police arrested Bryan Bantilan Pepito, 43, in a buy-bust operation at Purok Acasia, Brgy. Cotcot, Liloan, Cebu and confiscated an estimated 175 grams of shabu worth more than P1 million, a tea bag, and buy-bust money.

On Sunday, January 29, 18-year-old alleged drug suspect Mharjervin Orlanda Abellana, alias Nonon of Sitio Mangga, Brgy. Tisa, Cebu City, was arrested by the Mambaling Police Station past midnight and caught with 216 grams of shabu valued at P1.4 million at C. Padilla Street, Brgy. Duljo Fatima, Cebu City.

It was followed by another arrest of a certain Bergen Aguilar Catadman Aguilar, 35 years old, by the Dumaguete City Police Station of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) at around 6:46 a.m.

Confiscated from Aguilar were 107 grams of shabu worth P727,000 and other drug paraphernalia.

Matugas, 33, an ex-convict and a resident of Sitio Toong, Cogon, Tuburan, Cebu, and Pepito from Liloan, Cebu, were listed as among the Unified PNP-PDEA Regional Priority Top Targets.

In a statement, Police Brigadier General Jerry Bearis, PRO-7 director, said all arrested suspects face charges for the violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of the Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“These accomplishments demonstrate the PRO7’s huge progress in innovating strategies in the pursuit of lawless criminals and keeping our community safe,” Bearis said.

Also, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Rodolfo S Azurin Jr., said the arrest of the big-time drug pusher with about P13.6 million worth of shabu is a huge blow to the region’s drug trade.

“I commend the PNP and PDEA’s relentless efforts in the fight against illegal drugs. The confiscation of Php13.6 million worth of shabu is a significant blow to the drug trade. Let us continue to work together to bring down these criminal organizations,” Azurin said. N)

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