PHILIPPINE National Police Drug Enforcement Group director Brig. Gen. Eleazar P. Matta on Sunday announced the arrest of 12 of their targets following separate anti-narcotics operations which led to the seizure of nearly P5 million worth of shabu.

The official said that one of the suspects identified as “Empoy,” 34, yielded 88 grams of the “poor man’s cocaine” valued at P544,000 during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Pajac Proper in Bgy. Bajac, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu around 10:45 p.m. Saturday.

Two others identified as alias “Jay,” 37; and “Dodong,” 49, both residents of Bgy. Kauswagan in Basak Pardo, Cebu City, were arrested in a sting in Sitio San Roque, Bgy. Bambag 1, after they conspired to sell drugs to an undercover officer of the PDEG Special Operations Unit 7.

Confiscated from the duo were four plastic sachets containing 55 grams of shabu worth P374,000 and a cal. .38 revolver with several live ammunition.

Two other ”high-value targets” were arrested in Bgy. Sta. Ana in Taytay, Rizal during a buy-bust operation last Friday, which yielded an estimated 500 grams of shabu worth P3.4 million.

One of the suspects was described as a 32-year-old male resident of Pasig City while the second is a 36-year-old Maguindanao-born woman.

A sixth suspect with the alias “Kalog,” 39, tagged as a regional “high-priority target” in Ilocos-Pangasinan region was arrested in an anti-drug operation in Bgy. Quesban in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

He yielded 20 grams of shabu worth P136,000.

A seventh identified as alias “Boss” was arrested in a sting in Bgy. Tibayao in Carmen, North Cotabato around 1 a.m. Thursday. Seized from the suspect were some 20 grams of suspected Ketamine valued at P136,000.

PDEG operatives also raided a house in Dipolog City 1:40 a.m. Thursday and seized 20 grams of shabu valued at P136,000 and assorted drug paraphernalia.

No arrest was made during the raid conducted on the strength of a search warrant for illegal possession of drugs issued by the Dipolog City Regional Trial Court Branch 10.

Four other targets identified through their aliases “Boy Shabu,” 35; “Ayan,” 40; “Putol,” 35; and “Niño,” 36, were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Bgy. Zone 8 in Bulan, Sorsogon. Recovered from the four were 17 grams of shabu worth P116,000.

The 12th identified as alias “Princess,” 23, a “HVT” in Region 1, was arrested in a sting in Bgy. Naguilayan in Binmaley, Pangasinan last Monday. The suspect yielded 15 grams of shabu worth P102,000.

All suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, said Matta.