Six high-value targets were arrested by the authorities in a joint buy-bust operation conducted in Barangay Magugpo South, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
The operation also resulted on the dismantling of an alleged drug den.
Antonio Rivera, the regional director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI, identified the suspected drug den maintainers as Joey Villanueva and Rowena Demetria.
Other arrested suspects were identified as Jesson Montillano, Janneco Barroquna, Rommel Abellon, Manuel Ayado Jr., and Bienvenedo Quilario.
Rivera said they seized about 11 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, during the operation.
Rivera said the drug den is a “typical boarding house” at the back of a carwash.
He said Villanueva and his two patrons,
Montillano and Quilario, have been in and out of jail.
“They were just recently freed. They returned to old habits,” Rivera said.
Montillano and Quilario were able to post bail to obtain temporary liberty few months ago.
The operation was conducted by joint operatives of PDEA-Comval, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of Davao del Norte, Monkayo Municipal Police Station, Intelligence Branch of the Compostela Valley Police Office, Tagum City Police Station, and the Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office, with the overall supervision of Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, the regional director of Police Regional Office 11.
On the same day, the same operatives also conducted two buy-bust operations — in Purok 6, Berrio and in Purok 1-A, both in Barangay San Miguel, Tagum City – that resulted to the arrests of Andy Valderama Lara and Omar Oliva Diama.
Operative confiscated around two grams of suspected shabu amounting P24,000 from the two suspects.
All the suspects are now under the custody of PDEA-Davao del Norte pending the filing of formal complaint before the prosecution office.
Morales commended the operating agents for a job well done.
He vowed the Police Regional Office 11, with the support of the PDEA, will continue the relentless efforts to eradicate all forms of illegal drugs within the region.
