A pyrotechnic manufacturer and two others were arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday afternoon.
Police said Rolando Jumao-as, 47, is in the top 10 list of suspected drug pushers operating in the city.
Also arrested were Jumao-as alleged cohorts Florefina Berdin, 38, and Cristell Mark Berdin, 20.
Packs of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P500,000 were seized.
Police said Jumao-as agreed to sell P20,000 worth of shabu.
Police said Jumao-as were arrested the moment he accepted the money from the poseur-buyer.
Police later recovered 90 sachets and six big pack with white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.
Also recovered from the suspects were a .45 caliber pistol, a .38 revolver, P5,000 cash and illegal drug paraphernalia.
Senior Insp. Verniño Noserale, chief of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB), said Jumao-as is considered a level two drug pusher capable of selling more than 100 grams of shabu per week.
Babag barangay captain Epifania Augusto, who happens to be Jumao-as’ godfather, was around during the operation.
“Gi-warningan na na siya sa akong bana nga nahibaw sa iyang binuhatan pero wala man gyud siya mo-undang, mao nga pasensiyahay na lang ta (He was already warned by my husband who is aware of his illegal drug activities but he didn’t heed the warning so he must face the consequences),” said Augusto.
In Cebu City, a man allegedly involved in selling illegal drugs evaded arrest after noticing the arrival of the police with the help of a closed-circuit television (CCTV)camera.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) were supposed to implement a search warrant at the house of Paul Enolba.
Enolba was able to escape before the the police could arrive.
Police later discovered that two CCTV cameras was installed in a corner about 50 meters from the man’s house. There were other several CCTV cameras around the man’s house.
Police ended up arresting Stephen Barcelona and Felix Guiterez, who were allegedly caught sniffing shabu in the house.
Police also arrested Adonis Tenebro, who allegedly manned the CCTV monitors.
Three video carrera machines and 39 packs of suspected shabu were seized in the house, police said.