ORMOC CITY — The top-ranked drug personality in Eastern Visayas and three alleged associates, including a public school teacher, were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barugo, Leyte that yielded nearly P4 million worth of suspected shabu, authorities reported.
The operation was conducted at around 7:44 p.m. on June 12 in Barangay Cuta, Barugo by joint operatives from the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 8 through its Tacloban City Provincial Office and Regional Special Enforcement Team, the Leyte Police Provincial Office-Provincial Intelligence Unit (LPPO-PIU), the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), and the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the Barugo Municipal Police Station.
Authorities identified the suspects only by their aliases: “Ron,” 41, the primary target of the operation and the region’s No. 1 priority target for illegal drugs; “Sheila,” 41, a teacher; “Myrna,” 41, a self-employed resident; and “Naldo,” 34, a security guard. All are residents of Barugo, Leyte.
Police said an undercover operative was able to purchase a sachet of suspected shabu from “Ron” for P15,000 during the operation.
A subsequent body search conducted in the presence of required witnesses led to the recovery of three additional sachets and five knot-tied transparent plastic cellophanes containing white crystalline substances believed to be shabu.
Authorities also recovered P15,000 used in the operation, consisting of two P500 bills and 14 pieces of P1,000 boodle money. One of the P500 bills served as the marked money used in the drug transaction.
Several items believed to be drug paraphernalia were likewise confiscated.
According to the RDEU, the total estimated weight of the seized suspected shabu was 575 grams with an estimated street value of P3.91 million based on the Dangerous Drugs Board valuation.
The suspects were informed of the nature of their arrest and apprised of their constitutional rights in a language they understood, police said.
Criminal charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against the suspects, who are currently detained at the Barugo Municipal Police Station pending further proceedings.
(ROBERT DEJON)
