POLICE Regional Office 11 director, Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. on Monday reported the arrest of eight wanted men in Southern Mindanao in a string of anti-criminality operations in the region which yielded over P300,000 worth of illegal drugs and weapons.

In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the official said that one of the suspects identified as Alexander de Leon, a known ‘street-level individual’ in Southern Mindanao, was arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Purok 7 in Barangay Lubogan Road in Toril District, Davao City last Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Silo said the suspect yielded 10 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing around 17 grams of shabu valued at nearly P270,000, the buy-bust money topped by a marked P500 bill and a caliber .357 revolver with five live ammunition.

He added that members of the Davao City Police Station 17 under Major Romeo Mapanao Jr. also impounded the suspect’s motorcycle which he used in transporting the drugs.

The 2nd identified as John Carry Metrillo, tagged as the 10th most wanted drug dealer in Mati City in Davao Oriental , was arrested on the same day in Bgy. Dahican on the strength of a warrant for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Violence against Women and their Children Act issued by Judge Semiramis Bituin Castro of the Mati City Regional Trial Court Branch 5.

A P200,000 bail was set for the temporary liberty of the accused.

The 3rd identified as Elmer Cordova, the ‘high-value target’ in Southern Mindanao, yielded some P6,800 worth of shabu when arrested in a buy-bust operation in Purok 6, Bgy. Tagnocon in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro also last Thursday.

The 4th identified as Reynaldo dela Cerna, tagged as the 2nd most wanted person in Mati City in Davao Oriental, was arrested on Thursday by local policemen on the strength of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Maria Sophia Palma Gil-Torrejos of the Mati City RTC Branch 6.

The 5th identified as Jonathan Macaraba alias ‘Bagwis,’ a former member of the New People’s Army wanted for violation of Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 was arrested in a manhunt operation in Bgy. Pinalpalan in Malita, Davao Occidental last Tuesday.

Judge Carmelita Davin of the Malita RTC Branch 20 recommended a P200,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused,

Another suspect identified Alden Duay, tagged as a ‘high-value individual’ in the region yielded five grams of shabu worth P34,000 and an improvised 12-gauge shotgun with live ammunition during a raid in his residence in Bgy. Tibal-og in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.

Brig. Gen. Silo said that members of the Davao del Norte Police Provincial raided the suspect’s house on the strength of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 issued by Judge Gemma Betonio of the Panabo City RTC t past 7 p.m. Monday.

The 35-year old suspect was placed under arrest after officers recovered 13 plastic sachets containing the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine,’ various drug paraphernalia, an improvised shotgun and a caliber .45 live ammunition inside his residence.

The 7th suspect identified as Abundio Calundag,61, yielded a cal. .38 pistol with three live ammunition and an improvised shotgun around 11 p.m. Monday. Brig. Gen. Silo said that the suspect’s house was raided by the local police on the basis of a search warrant for violation of RA 10591 issued by Judge Semiramis Bituin Catro of the Mati City RTC Branch 5 in Davao Oriental.

On the other hand, the 8th suspect identified as Wilfredo Manlangit ,26, was arrested on Monday afternoon after a search of his house in Purok Fatima in Bgy. Lapaz, Carmen, Davao del Norte led in the recovery of four plastic sachets containing shabu and several drug sniffing paraphernalia.

Appropriate criminal charges for illegal possession of drugs and firearms and ammunition have been filed against the suspects who yielded the shabu and guns, the PRO11 director said.