A 42-YEAR-OLD fish vendor and five others were arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation and confiscated P73,500 worth of illegal drugs in separate buy-bust operations in Laguna.

Laguna Police Acting Provincial Director, Police Colonel Cecilio Ramos Ison Jr. reported to Calabarzon (Cavite/Laguna/Batangas/Rizal/Quezon) Regional Director Police Brigadier General Antonio C. Yarra the arrested suspect as Michael Macaraig, of Bgy. Damayan, Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

PLt. Col. Paterno Lagao Domondon Jr., chief of police of Damayan, said the suspect arrested at 8:30 p.m. at Sitio Maligaya, Bgy. Pagsawitan, Santa Cruz, Laguna who sold illegal drugs to a police officer who acted as poseur buyer in exchange for P1,000 pesos.

A preventive search led to the confiscation of five plastic sachets of shabu with a street value of more or less P50,000, one piece of coin purse with P500, and recovered P1,000 used as buy-bust money.

In a separate police operation of Santa Cruz Police, one Reynaldo Napiza, 39, jobless, and resident of Bgy. Patimbao, Laguna at Sitio 5, Bgy. Patimbao, Sta. Cruz, Laguna who sold illegal drugs to an undercover police.

Further search led to the confiscation of ten plastic sachets of shabu with a street value of more or less P13,000 pesos, a coin purse, and recovered P500 marked money.

In a separate Sta. Cruz police operation, Marcyniño Julian, 21, construction worker, of Bgy., Poblacion 1, Sta. Cruz was nabbed at Sitio 5, Bgy. Sto. Angel Central, Sta. Cruz, Laguna after selling illegal drugs worth P500 to a police poseur buyer.

The suspect yielded nine plastic sachets of shabu valued at around P5,000, a metal case, and recovered P500 buy-bust money.

In Calamba City Police under the direct supervision of PLt. Col. Arnel L. Pagulayan, chief of police, arrested Edgar Abasta, 49, jobless, of Bgy. 6, Calamba City, Laguna on 6:18 p.m. at Sitio Labak, Purok 1, Bgy. 6, Calamba City, Laguna who sold illegal drugs to a police officer in exchanged for P500.

Confiscated from Abasta were four plastic sachets of shabu weighing 1 gram and valued at P6,800, P200 drug money in a coin purse, and recovered P500 buy-bust money.

San Pablo City Police under the direct supervision of PLt. Col. Garry Custodio Alegre, chief of police arrested Mark Angelo Flores Ibañez, 36, jobless, resident of Bgy. Sto. Angel, Sta Cruz, Laguna and Erwin Estrada Napiza, 38, jobless, of Bgy. Callos, Sta. Cruz, Laguna sold illegal drugs to a police officer who acted as a poseur buyer in exchange for P500.

Authorities confiscated six plastic sachets of shabu with an estimated DDB (Dangerous Drugs Board) value of P5,500, one cigarette pack, P300 drug money, and recovered P500 buy-bust money.

The arrested suspects are currently in the custody of the respective operating unit and will be charged with violation of R.A 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and the seized pieces of evidence will be submitted to the Crime Laboratory Office for forensic examination.

PBGen Antonio C. Yarra said, “Sa aming kampanya kontra iligal na droga, hindi lang kami nagnanais na masugpo ang iligal na droga, kundi nais din naming masagip ang ating mga kababayan na nalululong sa iligal na droga dahil buhay at kinabukasan nila ang nakasalalay dito.”