P30 million worth of shabu were confiscated from suspected drug pushers Joshel Delfin de Jesus (right) and Roljoy Delloso in a buy bust operation on Friday. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Like in most cases, the two men who were arrested in a drug bust in Cebu City on Friday allegedly got their supply of illegal drugs from an inmate of the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Supt. Fermin Armendarez, deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7), already has the name of the inmate, but he refused to reveal it to the public while an in-depth investigation is being conducted.
“They (suspects) just call that man inside Bilibid who in turn will give the instructions,” Armendarez said in an interview yesterday.
Agents of CIDG-7 led by Armendarez arrested Roljoy Rosette, 33, and Joshel Delfin de Jesus, 28, for peddling two and a half kilos of shabu worth P29.5 million at Sixth Street at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City last Friday.
They had no idea that they were transacting with an undercover policeman.
Two women, Josephine Alfante and Shieralace Ylaya, who were also arrested by the CIDG-7 in Barangay Mabolo on Friday noon, likewise got their supply of illegal drugs from the same source inside the national penitentiary.
About P2.3 million worth of shabu were seized from the two women.
Charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly for selling illegal drugs, will be filed against the suspects before the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office tomorrow.
The offense is non-bailable.
Both Rosette and Delfin denied peddling illegal drugs.
Rosette, a motorcycle-for-hire driver, said one of his male passengers requested him to deliver a Christmas “gift” placed inside a paper bag to another man at Sixth Street in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City, last Friday.
The passenger, he said, promised to give him P1,000 when he returns.
Rosette said he could remember the face of his passenger but did not know the latter’s name.
He said he was given P250 as taxi fare.
Rosette said he requested his friend De Jesus, a construction worker, to accompany him in delivering the paper bag.
Supt. Armendarez said they are conducting another probe to find out whether or not it was one of the suspects who they transacted with through the phone.
“We will scrutinize their cell phones,” he said.
Four months ago, Supt. Armendarez said they have received an information that the suspects were selling a large amount of shabu.
The CIDG-7 agents transacted with the suspects, but the latter were allegedly very elusive.
Armendarez said they finally convinced the two suspects to sell them illegal drugs last Friday.
“Based on the information we received, they (suspects) still have other companions who are also into illegal drugs,” he said.
Armendarez said there will be no letup in their campaign against illegal drugs.
“Even if Christmas is near, we should continue working. We can’t postpone the operations,” he said.
He cautioned those involved in illegal drugs to stop their illegal activities or they will soon be arrested.
“My message for you is simple. Policemen are certainly doing their job,” he said.