Tacloban City – Anti-narcotics agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Tacloban City Police Office neutralized a drug den and arrested its maintainer and eight customers during a buy-bust operation conducted at Zone 1, Brgy. 59 Picas, Sagkahan. Tacloban City on July 08, 2016 at around 11:30 AM.
Elements of PDEA Regional Office 8 under Director Laurefel P. Gabales and Tacloban City Police Office conducted a buy-bust operation which resulted to the arrest of Edwin Abanes y Misceas,38 years old, male, married, mechanic, and resident of Zone 1, Brgy. 59. Picas Sagkahan, Tacloban City, Andy Apolonio Y y de Guzman, male, 28 years old, single,and resident of Brgy. 59-B, Sagkahan Tacloban City, Rodrigo Bustillo Jr. y Hermoso, male, 27 years old , welder, single, and resident of Brgy. 59-B, Sagkahan Tacloban City. Purchased from the suspects was one (1) pc. heat-sealed transparent sachet containing suspected shabu.
Also arrested were Regor Bagon y Onarusa (Drug Den Maintainer) single, 39 years old, painter, and resident of Zone 1, Brgy. 59 Picas, Sagkahan Tacloban City, Diron Abina y Cabillo, male, 33 years old, married, painter/construction worker, and resident of Brgy. 59 Picas, Sagkahan Tacloban City, Benito Gerez Jr. y Bellamac alyas “Bimboy”, male, 38 years old, single, pedicab driver, and resident of Brgy. 95-A, Caibaan Tacloban City, Chito Baldevia y Nombre, male, 38 years old, married, and resident of Brgy. 62-B, Sagkahan Tacloban City; Crisaldo Monteroso y Alcala alyas “Balodoy”, male, 31 years old, married, construction worker/pedicab driver, and resident of Brgy. 62-B Little Tondo, Sagkahan Tacloban City; and Rolando Aranzado Jr. y Magayon, male, 17 years old, single, and resident of Brgy. 62-B Kalipayan Sagkahan, Tacloban City,who were present inside the den when the operation was conducted.
Confiscated inside were six (6) transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, weighing more or less 13 grams with an estimated market value of P104,000, and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Abanes, Apolonio, and Bustillo will be charged for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs); while Bagon will be charged for violation of Section 6 (Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Equipment and Other Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, while the others will be facing charges for violation of Section 7 (Employees and Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort),Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Equipment and Other Drug Paraphernalia), of the anti-drug law.
The suspects are now detained temporarily at PDEA Office Detention Facility while waiting for their commitment order.