PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos yesterday commended the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) headed by Brigadier Gen. Roque Edgardo DP Vega anew for their string of major anti-narcotics accomplishments this month which saw the local police confiscating nearly P115 million worth of shabu.

Last April 23, a series of buy-bust operations in Cebu City yielded some 15.1 kilograms of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P102,850,000, said the top cop.

The biggest operation resulted to the arrest of a 24-year ‘high-value target’ identified as John Vincent Camion alias ‘Justine’ during a sting in Barangay Guadalupe conducted jointly by operatives from the PRO7 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and Regional Intelligence Division, the Cebu City Police Station 9 and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Confiscated from Camion were 10 kilograms of shabu with a Dangerous Drug Board value of P68 million.

Gen. Carlos congratulated Brig. Gen. Vega and his men for that particular feat. “The recovery of a large quantity of drugs from Camion could lead investigators to a major illegal drugs activity in Central Visayas,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Vega said the drug arrests and seizures were made as a result of their Simultaneous Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Operations in the region last April 23 alone.

He added that 1st to be arrested as a result of their SACLEO previously known as the PNP ‘One-Time, Big-Time’ anti-criminality operations was Camion.

A 2nd anti-narcotics operation netted Jastine Mantos alias ‘Justin’ who yielded 3.1 kilograms of shabu valued at P21,080,000.

Another sting led to the arrest of Vincent Ianel Violanda alias ‘Ikot’ after he sold drugs to an undercover officer. Recovered from the suspect were 1.015 kilo of shabu worth P6.9 million.

A 4th suspect identified as Lyle Padilla alias ‘Bawaw’ yielded 1.01 kilogram of shabu valued at P6.8 million while another identified as Dana Dequiña was arrested in a buy-bust operation which led to the confiscation of some 500 grams of the same prohibited drug worth P3.4 million

The 6th identified as Harrison Ybañez alias ‘Opaw’ yielded half-a-kilo of shabu and the buy-bust money during a sting in Mandaue City.

Overall, Brig. Gen. Vega said their 1-day conduct of SACLEO in Central Visayas last April 23 led to the seizure of 16.8 kilograms of shabu worth P114,240,000.

He said that all arrested suspects are facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“There have been simultaneous anti-illegal drugs operations in Cebu. This will create an impression of how active our police personnel are in taking necessary actions to curb the illegal drug activities in the province. I congratulate our personnel for this intensified approach against this menace,” Gen. Carlos said.

Since the start of the year, PRO7 agents have accounted for nearly 30 ‘high-value individuals and some P170 million worth of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ as a result of their stepped-up anti-narcotics campaign in the region.

“We will never stop our efforts in pursuing drug syndicates through our relentless battle against illegal drugs nationwide. Sisiguraduhin natin na mahuhuli at mananagot sa batas ang mga hindi pa rin tumitigil magbenta ng iligal na droga,” Gen. Carlos said in commending the PRO7 for their latest anti-narcotics feats.

“Ang sunod-sunod na matagumpay na operasyon ng ating mga operatiba ay isang patunay ng mas pinaigting na kampanya upang tuluyang sugpuin at mahuli na ang mga sindikato ng iligal na droga sa buong bansa. Ito ay bunga rin ng mas pinalakas na ugnayan at suporta ng ating kapulisan, ibat-ibang sektor ng lipunan at publiko,” the top cop added.

Last March 12, PRO7 operatives arrested four ‘HVTs,’ one of them a minor following separate buy-bust operations which netted an estimated P1.1 million worth of shabu.

Arrested inside the Flores Compound in Purok 1, Barangay Cubacub in Mandaue City were Ryan Monteron,46; and Joseph Cataraja,31. The two yielded 30 plastic sachets containing nearly 68 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at around P460,000.

The 3rd identified as Wendel Rizalado,43, was arrested in a sting in Bgy. dela Paz in Cortes, Bohol. Recovered from the suspect were seven plastic packets containing an estimated 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000.

The 4th suspect described as a 16-year old male yielded 23 plastic sachets containing around 50 grams of the same drug during a sting in Sitio Riverside in Bgy. Duljo Fatima in Cebu City.

PRO7 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit operatives also arrested two top drug targets identified as Mark Dexter Fernandez,31; and Pendathon Azes,33, during separate stings in the region.

Fernandez yielded 26 plastic packets containing around 1.020 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ worth P6.936 million during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Tubod in Barangay Candulawan in Talisay City in Cebu.

Azes was arrested in Purok Katubhan in Bgy. Bajumpandan in Dumaguete City past 8 p.m. last March 5 by RDEU and Negros Oriental PPO Drug Enforcement Unit officers after he sold drugs to a poseur.

Confiscated from the suspect were seven heat-sealed plastic sachets each containing 100 grams of shabu worth P4.760 million.

Another Region 7 ‘HVT’ identified as Jorge Paras was arrested on the same day in a sting in Mandaue City in Cebu.

Brig. Gen. Vega said that Paras alias ‘Joje,’ a 52-year old resident of Zone Pechay in Bgy. Paknaan in Mandaue City yielded some two kilograms of shabu worth P13.6 million, the buy-bust money and a cellphone he used in making contact with the poseur

Last March 4, PRO7 officers also arrested Randy Aranduque,39, a resident of Villa Zacate in Bgy. Basak Pardo in Cebu City during a sting at the latter’s residence. Recovered from the suspect were five plastic packs containing 150 grams of shabu valued of P1.02 million and the buy-bust money.

PRO7 anti-narcotics agents also arrested Clinton Rhey Belhida, 25, shortly after he sold drugs to a poseur in Sitio Lahing-Lahing in Bgy. Mabolo, Cebu City.

Brig. Gen. Vega said Belhida yielded 120 grams of shabu. The drugs were found in 17 heat-sealed plastic packets.

Another suspect identified as 32-year old Mario Tabanas was arrested in a sting along Pacana Street in Bgy. Tisa,Cebu City conducted past 7 p.m. last March 1 by officers from the PRO7-RPDEU.

The suspect who is now being held at the RPDEU 7 lock-up facility yielded some 211 grams of shabu valued at P1.430 million and the boodle money during the sting.

Last month, the PRO7 also accounted for nearly P27 million worth of shabu and 14 ‘’targets’ who are now all facing non-bailable cases for sale and possession of prohibited drugs.

The top cop said the major drug hauls in Central Visayas is another proof that they are winning their war on drugs thru ‘intelligence-driven’ operations’ triggered by tips from the citizenry.