By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two suspected members of the Iloilo-based Prevendido drug group were arrested Saturday evening following a joint operation conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) along Mt. Mandalagan Street at the Villa Estefania Subdivision in Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City.
Police identified the suspects as Andresito ‘Zuma’ Palabrica, Jr., a resident of Barangay Rizal in Iloilo City’s La Paz district; and his live-in partner Joan Villasor.
CDEU assistant team leader, Police Inspector Adrian James Albaytar, said Palabrica and Villasor are tagged as high-value drug targets on the regional level, with both believed to be the most trusted within the drug group.
Albaytar said the suspects moved to Bacolod City to further expand the drug group’s illegal activities, adding, both have been under surveillance for a month.
Over the past year, the suspects also reportedly changed residence within Bacolod City several times in order to elude police surveillance.
Police recovered a total of five big and five elongated sachets of suspected shabu, worth around P300,000; a wallet; and the P1,000 buy-bust money.
Both suspects face possession and sale of illegal drugs charges and are presently detained at Police Station 4./DGB, WDJ