POLICE Regional Office 7 Director Brigadier General Roque Edgardo Vega yesterday called on residents of Central Visayas to maintain their vigilance and continue reporting the presence of illegal drug activities in their communities in the aftermath of their latest major drug haul in Cebu City.

In a report to Philippine National Police Chief General Dionardo B. Carlos, the Central Visayas police director said that the arrest of four ‘high-value targets’ who yielded an estimated P8 million worth of shabu was triggered by information from concerned citizens whose names were withheld for security reasons.

“We are encouraging the public to report to us immediately the possible presence of illegal drug activities in their areas so that we can make the necessary action,” Brig. Gen. Vega said.

The official said that two of the suspects identified as Raymond Labay, 41, resident of Sitio Sandayong in Bgy. Guadalupe, and Jan Clifford Flores, 45, of Sitio Puntod in nearby Bgy. Alaska-Mambaling yielded 111 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P754,800 when they were arrested around 8 p.m. last Wednesday.

A 2nd buy-bust operation in Bgy. Lahug led in the arrest of Khent Michael Basarte, 22; and Relou Donaire, 33, both residents of Bgy. Bacayan yielded 1,055 grams of shabu worth P7.144 million during a sting in Bgy. Lahug.

Vega said that the four were placed under arrest by members of the PRO7 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit after they conspired to sell drugs to undercover officers.

The PRO7 director said he has ordered the conduct of follow-up operations to identify and arrest the main source of the drugs confiscated from the four suspects who 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.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon