AUTHORITIES confiscated P7.2 million in illegal drugs in separate operations in Cebu City, while a suspected drug pusher was killed in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City Wednesday evening.
The 12-hour drug operation in Cebu City which started Wednesday evening until yesterday morning, also netted two suspected robbers who victimized a certain Jean Sy, a bank employee living in Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Two minors were also rescued by the authorities.
The two suspected robbers were arrested during a checkpoint in Tipoloville, Barangay Kalunasan conducted by the Guadalupe Police Precinct.
Chief Insp. Dexter Basirgo, said he received a call from his desk officer about the robbery and that the suspects were on board a motorcycle headed for Barangay Kalunasan.
The suspects, identified as Lonie Ledesma,34, of Barangay Suba and John Kenneth Pungcol,18, of Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City were arrested.
The policemen allegedly recovered from their possession a cellphone owned by Sy worth P60,000 pesos and a .38 revolver with three bullets, the motorcycle they used during the commission of the crime, as well as one medium pack and ten small sachets of suspected shabu.
In another operation, San Nicolas policemen arrested a certain Dominick Larobis, 32 of Sitio Mahayay 2 Barangay Calamba during a buy bust operation.
Two minors aged 13 and 14, who were allegedly used by Larobis as couriers were rescued.
The minors, when interviewed by Cebu Daily News said Larobis forced them to deliver drugs to his clients and that they were afraid of him.
The drug bust led by Chief Insp. Henrix Bancoleta netted three medium packs of suspected shabu from Larobis’ possession.
A few minutes later two other persons were arrested by operatives of the Waterfront Police Precinct in Barangay Tejero.
Senior Insp. Joemar Pomarejos said Ruel Paalam, and his alleged cohort Mateo Ochea had been the subject of a three-week surveillance.
Paalam however denied ownership of 15 packs of shabu allegedly taken from his possession.
He said that he was inside his house answering the call of nature when he was arrested.
But Pomarejos said, “He can deny it but he will have to prove it in court.”
The police officer said the drugs taken from Paalam is valued at P4.4 millon, and that it was the precinct’s biggest haul.
More drug suspects were collared by the Punta and Pardo Police Precincts.
Those arrested by the Punta Police Precinct were identified as Marc Vernon Velasco and Mario Lascuña. Drugs valued at P63,000 were allegedly confiscated from them.
An alleged high value target was arrested by the Pardo Police Precinct in Barangay Pasil,Cebu City was identified as Nicolas Maranga Jr. Eighteen medium packs of suspected shabu valued at P994,000 were allegedly taken from Maranga’s possession.
Another suspect, a certain John Martin Inso was also arrested. Several packs of shabu were allegedly seized from him.
Mandaue City
In Mandaue City, a suspected drug pusher was killed in a drug bust in Barangay Umapad, after he allegedly pulled out a firearm, upon sensing that he sold drugs to a policeman in civilian clothes.
Aldrin Cartociano, 35 sustained several gunshot wounds which caused his immediate death.
Senior Insp. James Conaco, chief of the Opao Police Precinct said Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered a loaded .45 caliber pistol, four small sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and two wigs.
Mandaue Police also arrested two persons allegedly in possession of an unlicensed .45 and 15 sachets of shabu during a drug bust.
They were identified as Philip Edje Traya and Rabie Cabahug.
Another police team arrested two persons for possession of unlicensed firearms.
They were identified as Aljune Lagumbay and Luciano Pioquinto. A .38 caliber revolver was allegedly taken from each of them.