PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos yesterday commended the Visayas police forces and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) for their successful anti-narcotics operations since last week which have resulted in the seizure of nearly P27 million worth of shabu and the arrest of 14 ‘high-value targets’ who are now all facing non-bailable cases for sale and possession of prohibited drugs.

The top cop said that major drug haul scored in particular by the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) headed by Brigadier Gen. Roque Edgardo Vega is another proof that they are winning their war on drugs thru ‘intelligence-driven’ operations’ triggered by tips from the citizenry.

Last February 15, PRO7 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit operatives arrested two ‘HVTs’ identified as Jhoyarn Iñaki Walter Paninsoro,25; and Jurn Darnil Mendros,26, after they conspired to sell drugs to an undercover officer at Saint Jude Acres in Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City.

Confiscated from the possession of the two were a plastic pack and 10 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing some 425 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P2.890 million and the buy-bust money topped by a marked bill.

Two days later, PRO7 officers arrested another ‘HVT’ identified as Rudyard Zapanta Miller,32, during an entrapment operation in Sitio Kamagong, Bgy. Lahug, Cebu City.

Brig. Gen. Vega said the suspect yielded about 62 grams of shabu worth P421,600 and the marked money paid to him by an agent.

Prior to that, PRO7 operatives also launched a series of major anti-narcotics operations in the region which led to the neutralization of 11 ‘high-value targets’ and the confiscation of over P24 million worth of shabu.

Two of the suspects were killed in separate gunbattles with undercover officers who tried to arrest them in Cebu, said Gen. Carlos citing a report from Vega.

One of the suspects identified as 27-year old Jomar Espinoza, a resident of Barangay Tejero, Cebu City was killed after exchanging fire with policemen in Mandaue City last February 12.

The firefight erupted shortly after the suspect and a still unidentified cohort conspired to sell a kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million to a poseur at Purok Kiring in Bgy. Casili in Mandaue City, said the top cop.

Members of the Cebu City Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit and the Mandaue City Police Office conducted the sting.

The suspect suffered gunshot wounds in the body and died while being taken to the Eversley Child Sanitarium. His cohort managed to escape on board a motorcycle and is still being hunted as of press time.

Recovered during the sting were five plastic sachets containing a kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million, the buy-bust money, a caliber .38 revolver with a spent cartridge and several live bullets, a backpack and a helmet.

The 2nd suspect identified as 31-year old Johnny Antilon was killed in a gunfight with undercover officers in Argao, Cebu last February 11 while the rest were arrested and are now facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Brig. Gen. Vega said his men seized over P11.2 million worth of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ following six separate buy-bust operations on the same day.

One of the suspects identified as Joylyn Andamon,43, was arrested after selling a kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million to a poseur. The suspect yielded 22 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing the drugs and the marked money.

The 2nd suspect identified as Diomedes Magnanao,30, was placed under arrest during a sting in Sitio Dumpsite in Bgy. Inayawan, Cebu City. Recovered from the suspect were 19 plastic packets containing 525 grams of shabu and the buy-bust money.

The 3rd identified as Wendie Tacoloy,32, yielded 55 grams of shabu worth P374,000 during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Puso Center in Bgy. Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.

Another suspect identified as Melvin Saavedra,36, was arrested in a sting on JM Basa Street in Bgy. San Nicolas, Cebu City. Brig. Gen. Vega said the suspect was found in possession of 50 grams of shabu valued at P340,000 and the marked money.

The 5th suspectidentified as Jonas Pandan,41, was arrested in Purok 6, Bgy. Malayo Sur in Cortes, Bohol after he sold 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 to a poseur.

Brig. Gen. Vega said three others identified as Antilon and his cohorts Alejandrino and Renel Albaraccin were the subject of a police operation in Bgy. Colawin in Argao, Cebu around 7:10 a.m. last Feb. 11.

He added that Antilon apparently sensed they were dealing with an undercover agent, pulled out a concealed firearm and fired shots at the poseur but missed. Back-up operatives returned fire killing the suspect on the spot before arresting the 67-year old Alejandrino. The other Albaraccin managed to escape arrest and is still being hunted as of press time.

The PRO7 director said that recovered during the operation were 36 plastic sachets containing some 19 grams of shabu worth P129,200, a chamber-loaded caliber .45 pistol with a magazine containing one live ammunition, an improvised 12-gauge shotgun with two bullets, two spent .45 casings and two shotgun cartridges.

The 8th suspect identified as Renato Lauronilla was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Cebu City.

Vega said the suspect yielded 350 grams of shabu worth P2.3 million during the sting at El Filibusterismo Street in Bgy. Ermita, Cebu City.

Vega said the suspect yielded 15 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P2.380 million and the marked money paid to him by an undercover operative.

Brig. Gen. Vega said the series of buy-bust operations were conducted by officers from the PRO7 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and the local police.

Two other suspects identified as Jesther Soqueña alias ‘Bong’ and Biboy Dacumos, both residents of Bacolod City were arrested in a sting in Bgy. 21 in Victorias City last Feb. 10, said PRO6 director, Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo.

The official said that members of the PNP-DEG and the Victorias City Police Station placed the two under arrest shortly after they conspired to sell drugs to a poseur. Seized from the duo were 390 grams of shabu valued at P2.652 million and the buy-bust money.

A Toyota Vios with plate no. YJA 224 was also impounded by the PNP-DEG under Brig. Gen. Randy Peralta. The two suspects are now being held at the Victorias City police lock-up facility, said Dongbo.

“I commend the PNP-DEG, the PRO6 and the PRO7 for these two successful anti-illegal drug operations. This only signifies our unrelenting commitment to eradicate drug syndicates in the country in support to President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs,” Gen. Carlos said.

“Ang inyong kapulisan, katuwang ang iba’t-ibang sektor ng lipunan ay hindi titigil sa pagtugis at paghuli ng mga sindikato ng iligal na droga. At sa pamamagitan ng mas pinalakas at pinagtibay na ugnayan ng ating kumunidad at ating kapulisan tayo ay nakakasiguro na sabay-sabay nating mapagtagumpayan na wakasan ang pagbenta at paggamit ng iligal na droga sa buong bansa,” the PNP chief added.