Jerome Lazaga and JP Montañez (left photo) are waiting to be processed at the CIDG office after they were arrested with P1.7 million worth of illegal drugs in a hotel in Cebu City.
POLICE confiscated at least 150 grams of suspected shabu worth P1.7 million and arrested two persons during a buy-bust operation inside a hotel room in Cebu City.
Jerome Montañez Lazaga, 23, and his cousin, JP Padigos Montañez, 31, were arrested at 4 p.m. after the suspected shabu and buy-bust money changed hands, said Supt. Fermin V. Armendarez III, assistant regional director of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7), yesterday.
The operatives used P1,000 as buy-bust money and arrested the suspects when the transaction was done.
The CIDG-7, who conducted the operation, arrested Lazaga, who is from Sibonga but is temporarily living in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City, and Padigos Montañez, who is also from Barangay Carreta, was arrested inside a room at the Queensland Hotel, said Armendarez.
He said that they had put Lazaga under surveillance for two weeks before they conducted the operation inside Room 23 of the hotel, which is along General Maxilom Avenue, North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.
The CIDG-7 personnel confiscated 1 large pack and 3 medium-size packs believed to contain shabu.
Armendarez said that the suspected shabu was worth P1.7 million.
Lazaga claimed that he was only an errand boy of a certain Beloy and the transactions were made inside the hotel for safety purposes.
“Katulo nako nakahatod og shabu dinhi (I delivered shabu three times here),” said Lazaga.
Lazaga, who is an elementary school graduate, said that he had no other means of income.
“Wa jud koy laing trabaho (I am unemployed),” he told Cebu Daily News.
Montañez also denied any involement, saying he was just asked by his cousin to drive the motorcycle inside the hotel.
He even asked policemen to spare him from the charges.
Armendarez said Lazaga usually used motels to deliver the illegal drugs for safety reasons.
“Mao nay pinaka-safety sa ilang transaction kay kusog kaayo ang dakop sa gawas (That is the safest way to do their business because they would easily get arrested outside),” said Armendarez.
Carreta Barangay Captain Eduardo Lauron Jr. who witnessed the operation identified Montañez as resident on his barangay.
But, he clarified that he didn’t know about his illegal activity.