PHILIPPINE National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) director, Brigadier General Remus B. Medina yesterday announced the arrest of six wanted drug personalities following separate manhunt operations in the countryside last Thursday.

In a report to PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos, the official said that one of the suspects identified as 40-year-old Melbeth Bermundo, a woman wanted for a non-bailable drug trafficking case, was arrested in her residence in NIA Road in Bgy. Macabling, Sta. Rosa City.

Medina said the suspect is the subject of a warrant for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued last November 10 by Judge Vernard Quijano of the Biñan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 153.

No bail was recommended by the court for the temporary liberty of the accused.

Medina said that members of the PNP-DEG Special Operations Unit 3, with the support of officers from the National Capital Region Police Office under Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. tracked down the suspect in her residence.

Section 5 of RA 9165 refers to the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution or transportation of any dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursor and chemical elements which is punishable by life imprisonment and a maximum fine of P10 million upon conviction.”

The suspect is now being held at the PNP-DEG lock-up facility in Camp Crame pending her presentation to court for issuance of official jail commitment order, said Medina.

The 2nd identified as Benedict Cabariban, 26, resident of Bgy. Naguirangan, San Juan, La Union, was apprehended by PNP-DEG and Police Regional Office 1 operatives at No. 2 Masangkay Street corner Martinez St. in Antipolo City in Rizal, the official said.

Medina said the suspect has been tagged as the 9th most wanted person (MWP) in San Carlos City where Judge Marlon Meneses of the San Carlos City RTC Branch 57 has ordered his arrest for violation of RA 9165 on September 4, 2020.

A P200,000 bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the accused who is now locked up at the San Carlos City police jail.

The 3rd identified as Rodel Hinautan, 30, a resident of Zone 3, Pinikitan in Bgy. Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City, was arrested in Sitio Macanhan in nearby Bgy. Carmen on the basis of a warrant for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under RA 9165 issued by Judge Emmanuel Pasal of the Cagayan de Oro City RTC Branch 38.

The 4th, Manuel Solis, a 40-year-old resident of Bgy. Binakayan-Kanluran in Kawit, Cavite, was served another warrant of arrest for violation of RA 9165 inside the Cavite Provincial Jail in Trece Martirez City where he is being held for another offense.

Medina said Judge Barbara Edoria-Gatchalian of the Imus City RCT Branch 123 recommended no bail for the temporary liberty of the accused for sale and possession of illegal drugs on November 26, 2020.

The 5th identified as Myko Millama, 23, a resident of Purok Gumamela in Looc, Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu, was arrested in Purok Orchids area on the basis of a warrant issued by Judge Ruelo Saladaga of the Lapu-Lapu City RTC Branch 69 last November 15.

The PNP-DEG official said Millama has been tagged as the MWP in Lapu-Lapu City and has been named by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas as a “high-value individual.”

The 6th identified as Justyn Ambrosio, 18, resident of San Pascual Street in Malate, Manila, was arrested on the basis of a warrant of arrest for violation of RA 9165 issued by Judge Emily San Gaspar Gito of the Manila RTC Branch 5 last July 27.