Mandaue buy-bust: Former nurse caught with nearly P1.5M shabu 

A drug courier of an inmate in the New Bilibid Prison was arrested by authorities during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City, Cebu on Wednesday, August 30,2023. | Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A former nurse was caught with an estimated P1.5 million worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City in the early morning of August 30.

Police Colonel Maribel Getigan, in her report, identified the arrested person as Jhon Rosalia Buhia, 35, who is from Borgus, Bacolod City, but currently resides in Barangay Arpili, Balamban, in western Cebu. 

READ: Cebu City buy-bust: Man, out on bail, caught with P170,000 shabu

220 grams shabu seized

Getigan said that Buhia was caught with 220 grams of suspected shabu during the operation.

She said that the confiscated suspected shabu had a market value of P1,496,000.

Getigan also described Buhia as allegedly a trusted drug courier of an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison and was a high value individual in the city’s watch list of drug personalities.

READ: Barangay councilor caught with P20,400 worth of shabu in Bohol

Mandaue buy-bust in Jagobiao

The anti-illegal drugs operation was conducted at around 2:14 a.m. in Plaza Eversley in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City, Cebu, which led to the arrest of the Buhia.

Buhia allegedly operated around Mandaue City, Balamban, Consolacion, and other neighboring towns.

Getigan’s report also said that Buhia used to be a licensed nurse, whose license was revoked after he had a violent encounter with his head doctor a few years ago.

READ: Shabu worth P6.1M seized during 3-day SACLEO in Central Visayas

Former call center agent too

After that, Getigan said that the suspect allegedly worked as a call center agent before he allegedly engaged in selling illegal drugs.

The buy-bust operation was also conducted by personnel of the City Intelligence Unit/City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Mandaue City Police Office led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilfredo Alarcon Jr.

The suspect was detained at the Mandaue City Police Office detention cell pending the filing of charges.

Police said that Buhia would be charged with selling and possession of illegal drugs.

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