3 brothers nabbed in P3.5M shabu raid

Supt. Rex Derilo (right), chief of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG), talks to one of the operatives during an inventory of items seized in a raid against Roberto O. Rapuela (center, seated) in barangay Mambaling, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Police seized  P3.5 million worth of white crystalline powder believed to be shabu and arrested three brothers in an early morning raid yesterday in barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

Operatives of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) arrested Roberto Rapuela, 32, whom police described as a level one pusher who can dispose one kilo of illegal drugs per week.

Supt. Rex Derilo, deputy chief of RSOG, said Roberto, also known as “Boss RR”, has been in their watchlist of drug personalities for more than one year.

The suspect reportedly gets his supply from Muntinlupa in Metro Manila.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 19 Judge Wilfredo Navarro issued search warrants for Roberto’s two houses which are about 100 meters apart.

Roberto was arrested in the first house while his brothers, Junior Ocba, 40 and Ronaldo, 23, were  arrested in the second house.

They have been under surveillance for four months.

“We had a hard time apprehending him because usually he is not in the area,” said Derilo.

Seized during the operation were  more than 250 grams of white substance believed to be shabu, a 9mm submachine gun, a 9mm rougar, a .40 caliber revolver, several ammunition, a digital weighing scale and two vehicles, a Hyundai Santa Fe (AAZ-7825) and a Mitsubishi Strada (YLL-574).

Derilo said most of Roberto’s customers are his neighbors and some students.

The house where Roberto was arrested has several secret exits but he was caught by surprise when the police arrived in his house yesterday.

Mambaling Barangay Captain Wilfredo Go witnessed the raid.  Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Mambaling police assisted in the operation.

In an interview, Roberto admitted that he was engaged in the illegal drug business butrefused to give further details.

Some of Roberto’s neighbors were saddened by his arrest. They said he was a generous resident.

Others who do not tolerate his drug deals were happy.Roberto and his brothers are detained at Police Station 2 while the seized evidence were forwarded to the PNP Crime Laboratory.