A total of P1.08 million worth of suspected shabu was seized from a series of drug buy-bust operations ahead of the 44th MassKara Festival which will start this week.
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Colonel Noel Aliño, said yesterday their aggressive anti-illegal drug campaign through intelligence-driven operations will strengthen their war on drugs as MassKara Festival will kick-off on Friday, October 6.
“We have recovered large volumes because we are targeting the source,” Aliño said.
The BCPO is closely monitoring the entry of illegal drugs for the festival.
In August, the BCPO said they were expecting bigger drug confiscations before MassKara.
They believe that high-value drug suspects have already begun stocking up illegal drug supplies, as they will become in demand during the festivities in October.
On Saturday, September 30, a suspected shabu worth P320,000 was seized during a buy-bust operation in the city’s Barangay 2.
Police Station 2 arrested 28-year-old Jerish Christian Sarno Panao, a high-value individual, at 1:36 a.m., as he yielded nine sachets of the illegal substance.
Aliño said Panao’s arrest came “after a thorough intelligence and case surveillance.”
“He was also previously arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 and was released through a plea bargain agreement,” he added.
At 5:45 a.m., street-level individuals, 20-year-old Ken Ryu Gallego Barrientos and 33-year-old Martin John Española Beatingo, residents of Barangay Villamonte, were arrested in Barangay Mandalagan.
A police poseur-buyer bought suspected shabu worth P500 from the suspects.
Ten grams of dried marijuana worth P1,500 and 15 grams of suspected shabu valued at P102,000 were in the suspects’ possession.
Two caliber. 38 revolvers with live ammunition were also confiscated during the operation, holding them liable for violating the election gun ban.
On Monday night, October 2, 48-year-old Zenaida Juguan Samodio of Barangay 30, was arrested after she sold suspected shabu worth P1,000 to undercover police during a meet-up on Kabugaw Street in Gardenville Subdivision in Barangay Tangub.
The City Drug Enforcement Unit and the City Intelligence Unit recovered illegal drugs worth P659,600 from Samodio.
The suspect yielded 11 plastic sachets containing 97 grams of suspected shabu worth P6,800./With reports from PNA / WDJ