TWELVE ‘high-value targets’ were arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group in three separate anti-narcotics operations in the country this week which led in the seizure of nearly P5 million worth of shabu, PNP-DEG director, Brigadier General Remus B. Medina said on Thursday.

In a report to PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, the PNP-DEG director said that four of the suspects identified as Catherine Pangan,40; Raquel Apines,33; Rafael Bugal,56; and Roland Anquilo,45, were arrested in a buy-bust operation at Block 81, Excess Lot in Barangay San Esteban, Dasmariñas City in Cavite around 3:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Medina said that undercover officers from the DEG Special Operations Unit 4-A, with the help of members of the PNP Intelligence Group and the Dasmariñas City Police Station, placed the four under arrest shortly after they conspired to sell shabu to a poseur.

Recovered during the sting were an estimated 150 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P1.02 million, ten bundles of boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill and two mobile phones they used in making the illegal drug transaction.

Anquilo, a resident of Block 25, Lot 7, Bgy. Datu Esmael in Dasmariñas City was described as a. government employee. Pangan and Apines are both residents of Block 81 Excess Lot in Bgy. San Esteban while Bugal is from Block 67, Bgy. Sto. Cristo.

Medina said that four other suspects identified as Rohamen Usman,24; Salik Gomez,33; Joemar Balawag,27; and Sheikh Guialani,18; were arrested in a buy-bust operation along Seaside, Mall of Asia in Pasay City around 3 p.m.last Monday.

Recovered from the four were an estimated 400 grams of shabu valued at P2.720 million, the boodle money topped by. Marked P1,000 bill, three mobile phones, assorted identification cards and a weighing scale.

The official said that his men, with the support of the Pasay City Police Station conducted the operation. He said that Usman is a resident of Crossing Simulay in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao while Gomez is from Airport Road in Paguntalan, Maguindanao.

Balawag and Guialani are both from Cotabato City.

Last Sunday afternoon, members of the DEG SOU 4-A also arrested four ‘HVTs’ during an entrapment operation along UMC Street, United Muslims and Christian Neighborhood Green Valley Subdivision in San Nicolas III, Bacoor City in Cavite.

Medina identified the four as Ahmad Sandy,25, a resident of the Bacoor City subdivision; Benedicto Cuizon,30, of Ube Street, Annex Talon Uno, Las Piñas City; Jayson Herbacio,18, of Payatas A., Quezon City; and Anvelo Quipid,23, of Kaimito Street, Talon 5, Las Piñas City.

The suspects were found in possession of 150 grams of shabu worth P1.020 million, the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 b ill, an electronic weighing scale and a mobile phone they used in making contact with the poseur.

All suspects 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, said Medina. The offense is punishable by life imprisonment with a penalty of as much as P10 million upon conviction.

The official also reported the arrest of two men wanted for violation of RA 9165.

He said that Razel Anig-ig, a 29-year old resident of Purok Riverside, Zone 2 in. Bgy. Bata, Bacolod City was arrested on Sunday on the strength of a warrant for violation of Section 12 of RA 9165 issued by Judge Jose Reginald Fuentebella of the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 last September 9.

A P200,000 bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the suspect.

The 2nd identified as Power Dailisan,26, was served a warrant for violation of RA 9165 while under detention at the Pangasinan Provincial Jail last Monday.

Brig. Gen. Medina said that Dailisan, a resident of Upper Plaza, West Rembo, Makati City is the subject of a warrant for violation of Section 12 of RA 9165 issued by Judge Jacob Montesa II of the Makati City RTC Branch 63 last September 24.

Section 12 of RA 9165 refers to possession of any equipment, instrument, apparatus and other paraphernalia fit or intended for smoking, consuming, administering, injecting, ingesting or introducing any dangerous drug into the body.

The offense is punishable by imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to four years and a fine ranging from P10,000 to P50,000.