Five alleged drug pushers were arrested in separate drug buy-bust operations, spearheaded by the regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), in a 10-hour period starting Tuesday night in five different areas of the region.
PDEA agents were able to seize a total of P438,000 worth of illegal drugs from the arrested suspects in the five operations stating at 6:15 p.m. of Tuesday until 4 a.m. of Wednesday.
PDEA XI spokesperson Nephi Noli Dimaandal identified the suspects asJestoni Guihapon Sabaane of Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental; Angelito dela Victoria of Panabo City, Davao del Norte; Christian Bakiao Trimidal of Mati City, Davao Oriental; Joseph Galvan Manugas of Monkayo, Compostela Valley; and Alvin Corpuz of Trento, Agusan del Sur.
The first operation was in Davao Occidental at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday that resulted to the arrest of Sabaane, 30 years old, resident of Lower Fatima, Poblacion, Sta. Maria.
Sabaane was arrested by a PDEA agent who acted as poseur buyer after allegedly selling half kilo of suspected marijuana worth P3,000.
Another small pack of suspected marijuana, weighing about 10 grams, and the marked money were also recovered from his possession.
Sabaane’s motorcycle that he allegedly used in his illegal drug activities was also confiscated.
The operation was conducted by agents of the PDEA Davao Occidental Provincial Office, the Davao Occidental Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit and the Sta. Maria Municipal Police Station.
Around 9:30 p.m. of the same day, agents from the PDEA Davao del Norte Provincial Office, the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, the Davao del Norte Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Panabo City Police Station arrested dela Victoria, 55, in Luzviminda Subdivision, Purok 3-C, Barangay San Francisco where he lives.
Report said dela Victoria was arrested for allegedly selling a sachet, containing suspected shabu, in exchange for P8,000.
Another five big sachets of suspected shabu, weighing about 20 grams with a street value of P300,000, and the marked money were also seized.
At 10:30 p.m. of the same day in Lower Liberty, Barangay Central, Mati City, authorities arrested resident Trimidal, 25, construction worker.
Agents from the PDEA Davao Oriental and the Mati City Police Station collared Trimidal for allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P500 to an undercover agent.
One medium-sized sachet of suspected shabu, weighing around five grams with a street value of P75,000, assorted drug paraphernalia and the P500 marked money were recovered from the possession of the suspect.
On Wednesday at 2:30 a.m., another operation was conducted along the National Highway of Tagum City, Davao del Norte that resulted to the arrest of Manugas, 23, student and resident of Tubo-Tubo, Monkayo, Compostela Valley.
Manugas was arrested for allegedly selling one medium-sized pack of sachet suspected to contain shabu, weighing about a gram worth P10,000, to an undercover agent.
Another two small-sized sachets suspected to contain shabu and the marked money were recovered from the suspect’s possession by the joint operatives, composed of agents from the PDEA Compostela Valley Provincial Office, the PDEA Davao del Norte Provincial Office, the Monkayo Municipal Police Station, the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Davao del Norte Provincial Police Office and the Tagum City Police Station.
Around 4 a.m. of the same day, another operation was conducted by the same operating units at Purok Cabanesas, Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City, resulting to the arrest of Corpuz, 28, driver.
Corpuz was arrested for allegedly selling one medium-sized sachet suspected to contain shabu, weighing about five grams worth P50,000, to an agent who acted as poseur buyer.
Another two small-sized sachets containing suspected shabu and the marked money were recovered from his possession.
All the suspects are now detained at the detention facility of the PDEA regional office inside the Davao City Police Office compound along San Pedro Extension.
The seized suspect drug items were submitted to the PDEA Laboratory Service for qualitative and quantitative examination.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against the suspects.
