Police arrest Erwin Baron Estrella, 23, who was caught in possession of illegal drug with an estimated value of P1.7 million. | CDND Photo / Benjie Talisic
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Police collared a 23-year-old promodiser in possession of P1.7 million worth of illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation at the Carbon Public Market in Barangay Ermita around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1.
Erwin Baron Estrella, a resident of Barangay Labangon, was arrested by personnel of the Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Visayas Special Operations Unit 5 and members of the Drug Enforcement Unit of Carbon Police Station for possessing 250 grams of illegal drugs with an estimated value of P1.7 million.
While Estrella is a resident of Barangay Labangon, he is a native of Barangay Ermita, one of Cebu City’s drug-infested villages as described by police.
Its former barangay captain, Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta launched an anti-drug campaign in October 2017 before he was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men on November 23, 2017 in Liloan town.
READ: More barangays want ‘drug-free’ drive
READ: The legacy of Kapitan Imok
Estrella moved to Labangon after his house in Barangay Ermita was one of the 100 houses that was razed by fire last February 5. The fire started in Sitio Bato and spread to Sitios Vendor and Kastilaan.
READ: Fire razes at least 100 houses in 3 sitios in Ermita, Cebu City
Police Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Mayam, chief of the PDEG Visayas, said they began monitoring Estrella’s activities in Barangay Ermita when he was identified by other suspects, who were previously arrested from the said barangay.
Mayam said Estrella has a history of being part of the illegal drug trade even before he moved to Labangon. Estrella continued to be a drug courier even when he moved to Labangon but he still obtained his supplies from Barangay Ermita.
Estrella told CDN Digital that he was among the 2,800 individuals who were displaced by the fire.
He, however, denied involvement in the illegal drug trade for a long time. Estrella said he was only asked to deliver the illegal drugs by a friend.
Estrella is currently detained at the Carbon Police Station while waiting for charges to be filed against him. / celr & ddl