ORMOC CITY– Operatives of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of Leyte Provincial Police Office and the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) made a significant recovery of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation at around 5:50 am on Tuesday (June 18) in Barangay Cabalquinto, Calubian, and Leyte.

Leyte Provincial Police Office Director PCOL Dionisio DC Apas identified the suspects as: Arnel Perpetua, 42, married, self-employed, and the alleged maintainer of the drug den, who managed to elude arrest; Ma. Fe Lirios, 28, single, jobless; Emy Cabalhin, 42, married, self-employed; Gerard Hilboya, 41, self-employed, live-in partner; and Niel Torlao, 51, married, self-employed.

All suspects are residents of Brgy. Cabalquinto. The police recovered approximately six grams of suspected shabu from them.

Perpetua was the primary target of the operation. One sachet of shabu was procured from him by an operative for P500.

Upon realizing he was dealing with a policeman, Perpetua fled, leaving behind his cohorts and visitor buyers, who were subsequently arrested.

During the body search, conducted in the presence of witnesses authorized by law, the police recovered 10 more sachets of shabu, totaling seven grams.

Seven of these sachets were found on Torlao.

Additionally, the police discovered a plastic bag with Chinese characters containing a block of shabu weighing approximately one kilogram, with an estimated street value of P6.8 million.

Also confiscated were a P500 bill used in the operation, a short-caliber revolver without markings or serial numbers, a Vivo cellphone, and several drug paraphernalia.

The suspects were informed of the nature of their arrest and apprised of their constitutional rights through the Miranda Doctrine in a language they understood.

Charges for violations of Sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and violations of RA 10591, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunitions, and Explosives, will be filed against the four arrested suspects and Perpetua, who is still at large. (ROBERT DEJON/LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

ORMOC CITY– Two individuals are currently detained at the local police station in Maasin City after being apprehended for selling shabu during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office and the City Drug Enforcement Team.

The operation took place at around 3:20 pm on Wednesday (June 19) in Barangay Tagnipa of said city.

The suspects were identified as “Eric Jun,” 43, and alias “Karl,” 26, a wedding singer. Both suspects are listed as street-level individuals (SLI) and are residents of Brgy. Tagnipa.
Police recovered five sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu, which were procured by an operative for P5,000.

During a body search conducted in the presence of an elected official and a representative of the National Prosecutors Service, the police recovered five P1,000 bills from the suspects.

One bill, bearing serial number F6585879, was court-subscribed money intended for the operation, while the other four bills were boodle money used as bait. No other illegal items were found on the suspects.

Charges for violations of sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against the suspects, who are temporarily detained at the Maasin City Police Station.
(ROBERT DEJON)

SAN ANTONIO, Basey Samar – This year’s fiesta celebration in honor of San Antonio de Padua was culminated with a concelebrated mass with Rev. Msgr. Erlito Amistoso Maraya, parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño, Tacloban City as main celebrant and homilist.

Eleven other priests from the Diocese of Calbayog concelebrated during the main mass which was held about 9:30 in the morning here.

The concelebrating priests include Rev. Fr. Jonathan Amistoso Zeta, Rev. Msgr. Alfred Amistoso, Rev. Fr. Ferdie Figueroa, Rev. Neil Alavata, Rev. Fr. Jeorge Plaza, Rev. Fr. Jojo Llauder, Rev. Fr. Jomarie Cabuquit, Rev. Fr. Noel A. Abiertas, Rev. Fr. Ronjie Raquil, Rev. Fr. Reynaldo Lucaban and Rev. Fr. Marlo Benjamin C. Mangubat, the Parish Priest of San Antonio de Padua Parish.

In his homily, Rev. Msgr. Maraya focused on five points which he shared with the faithful in attendance. He stressed on the difference between the objective and the means which many people are confused in their daily life.

He encouraged the faithful to focus on the objective which must be achieved through the various means that each person might fit. He cited many examples, first of them has to do with studies. When a person studies as in school, the learner must aim for a perfect grade as anything less would mean that the person is not fully ready to practice one’s profession.
Another example has to do with eating which has good health and wellness as the main objective and not just getting full to eliminate hunger. Missing the objective of eating has been the cause of many illnesses.

In a simple way to emphasize the gospel message, Msgr. Maraya mentioned the purpose of our laws which is to protect life and property.

However, some people consider laws as restriction of basic freedom and liberty, causing them to violate the laws as mere rules that cause inconvenience.

He then discussed the reason of celebrating fiestas of patron saints. The word patron means pattern which is why the life of the patron saint is not just for devotion by reciting novena prayers but to emulate and live the life of the saint as a role model.

The life of Saint Anthony of Padua is a model of our Lord Jesus Christ. He then urged the faithful to live as true believers and followers of Christ by being the light that others may see Jesus in each person’s daily life.

Before the final blessing, the hermana mayor Khyne Silvano-Doctor who spoke in behalf of her husband Rascal D. Doctor, expressed her thanks to all their relatives and friends, donors and sponsors for all their support in making this year’s fiesta celebration a success.
For his part, Rev. Fr. Mangubat extended his sincere thanks and gratitude to the family of the hemano mayor Rascal Doctor and his wife Rhyne for their donation for the repair of the flooring of the sacristy and to Dr. Gil E. Ponferrada and his wife Dr. Socorro D. Ponferrada, proprietor of the Ponferrada Polymedic Hospital in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, for their donation for the repair of the church wiring and wall fans.
(AL ELLEMA)