Three suspected big-time drug dealers, including a couple previously jailed for the same case, were arrested in two simultaneous buy-bust operations in Barangay Lubogan, Toril District on Monday night.
Two teams from Tugbok Police Station swooped down the suspects around 6:30 pm Monday, confiscating a combined P200,000 worth of shabu.
Major Ricky Obenza, the commander of Tugbok Police Station, said the suspects were placed under surveillance for months as they were linked to the illegal drug trade.
Obenza said the one of the transactions was initially set in Mintal but later moved to Toril, where the other transaction was earlier set.
Couple Ian Sayson Gantuangco, 37, jobless, and Grace Postrano, 38, jobless, both residents of Purok 13, GTH, Lubogan, initially set the transaction in Tugbok but it was moved to Toril where they reside.
The operation resulted in the recovery of six sachets of suspected shabu, with estimated weight of 15 grams worth P150,000.
According to Obenza, the suspects are former detainees at the Kidapawan City Jail, facing the same drug charges few years ago. Gantuangco was released in 2016 after the case against him was dismissed. Postrano, on the other hand, released after she was acquitted in 2017.
“They were both listed in Directorial for Intelligence watch list,” Obenza said.
The police commander identified the other arrested suspect as Reynaldo Apacible, alias Toto, 49, a delicacy vendor and resident of Purok 1, Barangay Tugbok Proper, Tugbok District.
According to the report, the suspect also sold one sachet of shabu to a police poseur buyer at Purok 13, Barangay Lubugan.
Police recovered five sachets of suspected shabu, with estimated weight of five grams worth of P50,000, from Apacible.
Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales, the police regional director, commended the operatives “for a job well done.“
“These people are categorized as ‘hardcore’ drug personalities for they are recidivist,” Morales said.
Morales said the “successful” anti-illegal drug operations are part of the “aggressive implementation” of the police anti-illegal drugs campaign.
The three arrested suspects are now detained at the Tugbok Police Station pending the filing of charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
