Six persons were arrested and P9.2 million in suspected shabu was seized in a stepped up campaign against illegal drugs from Saturday to Monday, October 12 to 14, as Bacolod City celebrates its 45th MassKara Festival.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and police while implementing a search warrant on high value targets confiscation about 275 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P1,870,000 at Purok Boulevard Brgy. 14 Bacolod City, 7:33 a.m. Monday, PDEA VI spokesperson Shey Tanaleon said.
The PDEA VI- Regional Special Enforcement Team with the PDEA Negros Occidental Provincial Office operatives and the Bacolod police arrested alias “Rufert”, 34, and “Ronalyn” of Barangay 14.
“Rufert” initially eluded arrest but was later apprehended. He was injured when he feel from a defective part of the roof of his neighbor’s house where he was hiding.
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) also arrested three high-value drug suspects in two separate operations on Sunday and Monday, resulting in the confiscation of 1 kilogram of suspected shabu, with a combined estimated street value of P6,800,000.
SINGCANG-AIRPORT
At 9:32 p.m. Sunday a buy-bust operation was conducted at Purok Hollowblocks, Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, leading to the arrest of alias “Biboy”, a resident of Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City, the police reported.
The suspect was apprehended for violations of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) under RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The operation was carried out by Bacolod Police Station 8 in coordination with the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), leading to the seizure of around 500 grams of suspected shabu worth P3,400,000.
BARANGAY 9
Just hours later, at 1:01 a.m. Monday, a successful buy-bust operation was conducted at Purok Rose, Barangay 9, Bacolod City.
This resulted in the arrest of two high-value individuals – alias “Elizabeth”, a resident of Brgy. 27, and alias “Jupet”, a resident of Brgy. Tangub in Bacolod City, the police reported.
Both suspects were arrested for violating Section 5 and 11 of RA 9165.
Alias “Jupet” faces charges under Section 26 (Attempt or Conspiracy).
The operation conducted by Police Station 2 led to the confiscation of another 500 grams of suspected shabu, valued at P3,400,000.
BANAGO
On Saturday a woman was arrested in a buy-bust operation after the police seized P612,000 worth of suspected shabu from her in Purok Kalingawa, Sitio Sibucao, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City.
Alias “Lourdes” of Purok Kalingawa was arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the police reported.
The suspect was apprehended after selling the suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer
Recovered from her were 90 grams of suspected shabu, the police said.
“These successful operations demonstrate BCPO’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the community, especially during the celebration of Masskara Festival 2024,” a BCPO statement said.
MAYOR’S ORDER
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said even before October he instructed the Bacolod police director and other enforcement agencies to watch out for entry of drugs intended for the MassKara Festival.
“I guess that is why we have this kind of size of drugs being seized now,” he said.
He said those engaged in the illegal drug trade “can try but they will never succeed in Bacolod…because we will be working double time to make sure no illegal substance enters”.
Benitez said the drugs are coming from outside Bacolod and he will provide the new DILG Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla with the information he has received on the ground on their sources so they can be acted on.*