By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The current top three drug personality in Western Visayas (WV) was finally arrested by joint members of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Station 8 and Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) Drug Enforcement Group-Special Operations Unit at Purok 13 in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mandalagan late Tuesday night, February 1.

Police identified the arrested as 34-year-old Jessie Masgong, a resident of Villa Esperanza in the city’s Barangay Tangub; and Christian Guinanao, 26, a resident of the city’s Purok Tisa in Barangay 20.

Police Major Joery Puerto, Police Station 8 commander, said Masgong’s name was included in the station’s drugs watchlist and is currently third in PRO-6’s top drug personalities in Western Visayas, while Guinanao served as Masgong’s drug runner.

Masgong previously conducted all of his illicit activities in Barangay Tangub, but moved to Barangay Mandalagan about a year ago.

Puerto also confirmed that the two suspects have contacts with an inmate who is currently serving time for drug-related charges inside the Bacolod City Jail and pointed to them where they could get their supply of illegal drugs.

Once they acquired their supply of illegal drugs, Guinanao would then serve as the courier wherein he would distribute it to other druggies in the city such as in barangays 20, Tangub, Singcang-Airport, and Mandalagan.

Police recovered 20 sachets of suspected shabu with a combined weight of 105 grams and valued at P714,000.

Masgong and Guinanao are facing charges related to Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./DGB, WDJ