THE 5th most wanted drug trafficking personality in Southern Mindanao is now in jail after he was arrested for allegedly selling over P400,000 worth of shabu to an undercover officer in Mati City, Davao Oriental last Friday, Police Regional Office 11 director, Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. announced esterday.

The official, in a report to Philippine National Police chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. identified the suspect as John Rex Tabudlong alias ‘Junrex,’ a 39-year old driver from Purok 4-B in Barangay Mayo, Mati City.

“We have accounted for the 5th top drug target in the region who is 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 Brig. Gen. Silo.

According to the PRO11 director, a member of the Mati City Police Station arrested the suspect in a buy-bust operation in Purok Acacia, Bgy. Dahican around 5:30 p.m. last Friday.

He said that confiscated from the suspect were eight heat-sealed plastic sachets containing around 60 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine valued at P408,800, drug paraphernalia and the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.

Tabudlong became the latest wanted drug personality to be jailed by the PRO11.

Brig. Gen. Silo said the nine others were arrested in separate anti-drug operations which resulted in the seizure of over P200,000 worth of shabu and marijuana.

The official said five of the suspects who were all described as ‘high-value targets’ were arrested in a sting in Purok 4-B, Barangay Magsaysay in Carmen, Davao del Norte around 1 a.m. Friday.

The suspects were led by 54-year old Rodegelio Pogoy alias ‘Bayot’ who was found to be maintaining a drug dive in the area where shabu can be bought and sniffed.

Apart from Pogoy, the other arrested suspects were his neighbors Junior Ga,35; Ian Jay Magto,21; and Jhonrey Magto,28; and Junrey Calaycay,34, a resident of Lorsing Subdivision in Bgy. San Vicente, Panabo City.

Recovered from the suspects were around 12 grams of shabu worth PP81,600, various drug paraphernalia and the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.

The suspects are now under the custody of the local Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Another suspect identified as Rommel Malaki, a 48-year-old farmer from Purok Kurigsaw in Mansaka Village, Bgy. Poblacion, Maragusan, Davao de Oro was arrested in an entrapment operation in nearby Purok Durian past 2 p.m. Thursday.

The suspect yielded over P1,000 worth of shabu and a marked P1,000 bill.

The 7th identified as Ralph Allan Medida yielded nearly 17 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at around P110,000 during a buy-bust operation in his residence at Block 3, Lot 8 in Macar Village, Bgy. Baliok in Davao City around 4:10 p.m. last Wednesday.

The 34-year-old suspect is a resident of Muslim Village, Ilang, Davao City. He yielded seven plastic sachets containing the big volume of shabu and the buy-bust money topped by a marked P500 bill.

The 8th identified as Ernesto Ginatilan II was arrested in a sting in a ‘buko’ stall along Kilometer 10 in Sasa, Davao City around 9:30 p.m. last Wednesday. Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were around P1,000 worth of dried marijuana leaves and a marked P500 bill.

The 9th identified as Dendras Manzano, a 31-year-old resident of Purok Hayahay in Bgy. Poblacion, Lupon, Davao Oriental was arrested in a buy-bust operation in his neighborhood around 4 p.m. last Friday.

Brig. Gen. Silo said the suspect who has been identified as the 10th most wanted drug personality in Southern Mindanao yielded an estimated P17,000 worth of shabu and the marked P1,000 bill paid to him by an undercover officer.

All the nine suspects are facing charges for violation of RA 9165.