OSMEÑA: See what our police can do when there are no more drug protectors in control of City Hall?
Close to half a million pesos’ worth of drugs were confiscated in two police operations in Cebu City on Wednesday night.
Police also arrested three drug suspects and 13 other individuals, including a public school teacher, who were allegedly caught inhaling shabu in a drug den in Barangay Sambag 1 around 7 p.m.
The arrest immediately draw praise from Cebu City Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña.
“Our police don’t stop working!” said Osmeña, who described on his Facebook page as “good news” the recent police operations.
“Three catches in 24 hours isn’t bad at all,” he added.
Police first arrested Archie Roma and Bayani Alcomendras near the Cebu South Bus Terminal along Natalio Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City on Wednesday night.
Senior Insp. Eunil Avergonzado, head of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (CAIDSOTF), said the two supplied drugs to passengers at the terminal.
The police team later raided a drug den that the three drug suspects operated a few meters from the Sambag 1 barangay hall and arrested 13 persons, including a public school teacher form Barili town, located 61 kilometers southwest of Cebu City.
Jeramil Sanchez was identified through his Department of Education (DepEd)-issued identification card. Sanchez refused to name his school.
Also arrested were Wilfredo Marco, Sherwin Gonzales, Vince Quijano, Jessie James Belotindo Alcos, Vince Quijano, Jerry Rosal Dean, Mark Ungria Vergara, Pejay Simon Dalota Mangaytay, Melvin Malou Ababon, Brian Amancio Brigooli, Alex Hubahab Montecillo and Josephine Marcado Tabotabo.
Avergonzado said 12 small packs and two medium packs of suspected shabu worth P150,000 and a snubnose revolver were recovered during the raid.
Shortly before midnight, police also arrested drug suspect Jason Legarda of Highway Tagunol in Barangay Basak for possession of drugs worth P295,000, a .45 caliber handgun and a Beretta airsoft handgun.
Legarda was arrested by a team of Pardo police led by Insp. William Alicaba.
“See what our police can do when there are no more drug protectors in control of City Hall?” said Osmeña’s Facebook post.
The mayor-elect said he forwarded to CAIDSOTF last week a tip about a drug peddler operating in Barangay Sambag.
“CAIDSOTF has been conducting surveillance in the area since last week and has reported to me that the drug den’s location has been confirmed. Operation is ongoing right now and several people have been arrested at this time,” added Osmeña’s FB post.
Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud, DepEd Cebu province supervisor, said Sanchez will be meted with disciplinary actions after they have secured a copy of the police report on his arrest.
Angtud said her office would investigate Sanchez and submit their findings to their regional office for the imposition of penalties against him.
This was the second time that a public school teacher in Cebu province was arrested for illegal drug use. Police earlier arrested a teacher from Sibonga town who later resigned, said Angtud.
“Matawag man gyud ni nga isolated case kay 13,000 plus baya atong mga teachers. Sad kaayo. Very, very sad (This can be called an isolated case since we have 13,000 plus teachers. This is sad. Very, very sad),” Angtud said.