PNP-DEG arrests 9, seizes nearly P6M MJ, shabu
STEPPED-UP anti-narcotics operations by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) this week resulted in the arrest of nine wanted drug personalities and the confiscation of nearly P6 million worth of dried marijuana leaves and shabu in different parts of the country, a report to PNP chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said on Sunday.
On Tuesday, PNP-DEG operatives under Brigadier Gen. Remus B. Medina joined by members of the Cordillera Police Regional Office under Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva overrun a big clandestine cannabis plantation in Bgy. Loccong in Tinglayan, Kalinga province.
Uprooted and destroyed through burning at the site were around 25,000 fully-grown marijuana plants and seedlings worth about P5 million.
On Friday, PNP-DEG and Bacolod City police officers conducted a buy-bust operation in Purok Magsanaya in Bgy. 6 which led in the arrest of Garry Cartalaba, a 34-year-old resident of Purok Malipayon, Bgy. 12 who has been tagged as a “high-value target.”
Medina said that recovered from the possession of the suspect were seven heat-sealed plastic sachets containing around 35 grams of shabu valued at P238,000 and the P12,000 worth of boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill paid to him by an undercover PDEG officer.
Another sting in Bgy. Sangli in Zamboanga City last Wednesday led in the arrest of Jeffrey Jalman alias “Toyong,” a suspected big-time drug trafficker in Western Mindanao after he sold shabu to a poseur.
Members of the PNP-DEG and the Police Regional Office 9 under Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Genaro E. Ylagan recovered an estimated P340,000 worth of shabu form the suspect as well as the marked money he received from an agent.
Medina described Jalman as a notorious drug trafficker in Western Mindanao particularly operating in Zamboanga City and in some parts of Zamboanga Sibugay where he transport drugs through the use of motorized boats.
Both suspects are now facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The PNP-DEG director said that the rest of the suspects were arrested on the strength of non-bailable warrants for violation of RA 9165 following separate manhunt operations in the countryside.
One of them identified as Rafael Decatoria, listed as the 10th most wanted drug personality in Opol, Misamis Oriental, was arrested in Capisnon, Bgy. Kauswagan in Cagayan de Oro City.
Another identified as Elizar Capuyan was arrested in Danao City in Cebu. The 3rd identified as John Kevn Fualo was arrested in his residence in Holiday Homes in Bgy. Diclatan, General Trias, Cavite.
The 4th, Dinnes Morales, was arrested last Wednesday in Sitio Tabuk in Bgy. Maslog in Danao City while another, Danilo Daylos, was tracked down in Bgy. Rizal in Diffun, Quirino province.
The 6th, Ronaldo Zamora, was arrested in Bgy. Labangal in General Santos City while the 7th identified as Arjan Tobato, tagged as the 8th most wanted man in Tupi, South Cotabato, was arrested in Purok 11-D in Bgy. Poblacion.
