TACLOBAN CITY — Police in Eastern Visayas arrested several drug suspects, seized illegal firearms, and stopped an unlawful fuel trade in a series of operations conducted over two days, authorities reported Monday.
The operations, carried out from February 20 to 21, were led by the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) under Regional Director Jason Capoy.
On February 20, operatives of the Albuera Municipal Police Station arrested a fish vendor tagged as a street-level individual during a drug buy-bust operation in Albuera.
Police recovered around 5.5 grams of suspected shabu valued at P73,400, along with a .38 caliber revolver, four rounds of ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
The following day, police in Llorente, Eastern Samar arrested two men — a 30-year-old driver and a 20-year-old laborer — for alleged illegal fuel trading in Barangay Naubay.
Confiscated from the suspects were 900 liters of premium gasoline worth P56,295 and 360 liters of unleaded gasoline valued at P22,122, along with a white van and other materials used in the activity.
Also on February 21, police in Burauen, Leyte arrested a suspect in a shooting incident through a hot pursuit operation.
Investigation showed that the victim was refueling at a sari-sari store when the suspect suddenly appeared and shot him, hitting his left arm. The victim was rushed to the Burauen District Hospital for treatment.
Authorities later apprehended the suspect and recovered a .45 caliber pistol with one magazine loaded with five live bullets.
In Ormoc City, a buy-bust operation conducted by the local drug enforcement team resulted in the arrest of high-value individuals and one street-level suspect.
Seized were six sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 2.53 grams with an estimated value of P17,204. Police also recovered a .357 caliber revolver, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
Capoy commended the swift response of police units across the region, saying the arrests and seizure of illegal drugs and firearms demonstrate PRO-8’s commitment to maintaining peace and order.
All confiscated items were properly inventoried in the presence of witnesses, as required by law. The suspects are now in police custody and are facing appropriate criminal charges.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
