Twenty-one persons were arrested and more than P300,000 worth of drugs were recovered in separate buy-bust operations in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, in two days.
At least 17 suspects, including those who were at the drug den, were nabbed in a buy-bust operation at Purok 1, Barangay 6 on Saturday, May 8.
Arrested were:
- Suspected drug maintainer Ricardo “Kadoy” Garcia, 35, of Barangay 6, Kabankalan
- Ramil Dela Cruz, 33, of Barangay Aguisan, Himamaylan City
- Roger Abordo, 31, male, of Barangay Camugao, Kabankalan City
- Richard Garcia, 36, of Brgy. 6, Kabankalan
- Joebel Barientos, 35, of Brgy. Aguisan, Himamaylan
- Jan Michael Sambrano, 28, of Brgy. Orong, Kabankalan
- Marlon Villaflor of Brgy. 6, Kabankalan
- Ramil Martinez, 23, of Brgy. Salong, Kabankalan
- Bobby Infante, 30, of Brgy. 6, Kabankalan
- Gilbert Magaso, 40, of Brgy. 6, Kabankalan
- Jonah Lirazan, 34, of Brgy. 1, Kabankalan
- Adrian Tingson, 38, of Binalbagan
- Reynaldo Atillaga, 35, of Binalbagan
- Romer Buscado, 31, of Brgy. Dancalan, Ilog
- Jeoford Juguan, 46, of Brgy. Salong, Kabankalan
- Roland Jestupa, 38, of Brgy. Salong, Kabankalan
- Johnnny Suico, 33, yrs old, male, resident of Brgy Tabu, Ilog
Suspects George Ordonia, 39, and Reggie Matos, both alleged drug den maintainers, were able to escape during the bust conducted by joint operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Occidental and Guimaras, and Kabankalan City Police Station.
Confiscated during the operation were around 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000 and several drug paraphernalia.
In a separate drug bust operation on Friday, May 7, at Purok Bino, Brgy. Oringao, four suspects were arrested while 35 grams of suspected shabu worth P238,000 were recovered.
Nabbed were Kabankalan residents Jeffrey “Nonoy” Cortez, 46, the subject of the buy-bust, Rene Gumarang, 36, and Arnel Sarona, 28. Also arrested was Mabinay, Negros Oriental resident Joseph Eranes, 53.
Cortez tried to evade the police following the drug transaction but was quickly cornered by the pursuing operatives. He also yielded a homemade .38 caliber revolver loaded with four live ammunition, a police report showed.
The suspects also yielded several drug paraphernalia and cash.
They are now in police custody and will face criminal charges.*