A photo of the Mabolo buy-bust operation. | Photo courtesy of PDEA-7
Cebu City, Philippines—The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) said it arrested two high value targets and seized 250 grams of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Mabolo on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
PDEA-7 also said that a separate buy-bust in Dumaguete City in Negros led to the arrest of a drug den maintainer.
PDEA-7 arrested a couple identified as Howard T. Villajos, 41, private driver and Jessie B. Torregoza, 22, along Guibilondo Street in the Mabolo bust.
The high value individuals yielded a pack of suspected shabu weighing around 250 grams that has a market value of P1.7 million. Police also seized a unit of motorcycle ang a mobile phone.
Authorities said that the suspect can allegedly dispose three kilos of suspected shabu every week, both within and outside Metro Cebu.
Moreover, operatives have been monitoring these targets since November of 2021 and it was only on Tuesday evening that the suspects agreed to a transaction with the undercover cops.
“Based sa intelligence reports, kini si Howard Villajos, usa ni sha sa kadtong mga remnant sa dagkong drug personality sa una. Mao na atong gi verify,” said Leia Alcantara, PDEA- 7 spokesperson.
PDEA-7 said it is currently verifying the suspects’ drug ties, and the confiscated cell phones will be subjected to a thorough examination in order to obtain additional information of the suspects’ drug sources.
“Ongoing atong investigation karon ug sa iya pud connection ug unsa ka lapad ang iyahang distribution dinhi sa Cebu,” Alcantara added.
Breeding ground for criminality
Meanwhile, a butcher in Dumaguete City, who is allegedly a drug den maintainer, and his two “visitors” were apprehended by PDEA Negros Oriental Provincial Office on Tuesday afternoon.
Operatives identified the suspects as Fortunato “Papart” Melo, 50, drug den maintainer, and his drug den “visitors,” Daryl Arabe, 22, and Jeff Adrean Supo, 23.
They were arrested in a buy-bust operation at around 4:25 in the afternoon. They were caught with 10 packs of suspected shabu weighing around 13 grams, which has a market value of P88,400.
Authorities also seized buy-bust money and various drug paraphernalia.
Police believe that consistent monitoring and dismantling of drug dens in the region are considered to be “high-impact” operations important to retain peace and order in the community.
Alcantara said that PDEA, along with Philippine National Police (PNP), see drug dens as breeding ground for criminality.
Since the start of the year, nine drug dens have been shut down by operatives, two in Negros Oriental, one in Tagbilaran Bohol, and six in Metro Cebu.
/bmjo
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