By CESAR JOLITO III
Three high-value drug targets and four others were arrested in two separate buy-bust operations that led to the confiscation of P12 million worth of suspected shabu in Bacolod City over the weekend.
The primary suspect, identified as 42-year-old Nadal Verde, alias “Linda,” separated, jobless, and a resident of Hermelinda Homes in Barangay Mansilingan, was arrested by operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Bacolod City Police Office at Hermelinda Subdivision at 8:31 p.m. on Saturday, June 28.
Verde was caught in possession of approximately 1,535 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P10,438,000.
Also arrested were 36-year-old Cheryl Bulandras, single, a caregiver from Barangay Handumanan’s Purok San Roque; 34-year-old Richard Javellana, single, a service crew worker from Zone 1, Barangay Handumanan; 23-year-old John Kyle Treyes, single, a waiter from Barangay Mansilingan’s Purok Cabuguason; and 23-year-old Angelo Martinez, single, jobless, also from Cabuguason.
Authorities recovered one heat-sealed sachet of suspected shabu as the buy-bust item, six empty sachets, three plastic bags containing the suspected illegal substance, P20,000 marked money, and various non-drug items.
The street value of the suspected substance is estimated at P6,000 per gram.
Verde is facing charges of violating Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the CDEU said.
Police said the suspects are currently in custody while charges are being prepared for filing in court.
Meanwhile, two jobless men were arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation conducted by local police in Barangay 7’s Purok Tangkong, also in the city, at 12:33 a.m. yesterday, resulting in the confiscation of suspected shabu worth nearly P2 million.
The suspects were identified as 37-year-old Junjie Milabo, a resident of Barangay Felisa’s Purok Matinumanon, and 25-year-old Cyril Rico of Purok Mahirup, also in the said village.
Both were classified as high-value individuals, although not listed under the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
During the operation, the suspects sold a knot-tied transparent plastic bag containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu to a police poseur buyer in exchange for P35,000.
The marked money consisted of one genuine P1,000 placed atop 34 boodle bills of the same denomination.
A black sling bag recovered from Milabo contained eight additional knot-tied plastic bags of suspected shabu, while a black coin purse confiscated from Magallanes held 13 heat-sealed sachets of the same substance.
The items were marked and inventoried at the scene with the presence of Barangay Kagawad Bernabe Sibug of Barangay 7.
Authorities reported that the seized illegal drugs weighed approximately 290 grams, with an estimated standard drug price of P1,972,000.
The suspects are now in police custody and will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./CJ, WDJ