Bacolod: Operatives of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrested five persons and confiscated PHP1.36 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation at Barangay 3 early Wednesday morning. In a report, the police identified the main subject as alias 'Toto Murillo,' 21; and his companions with aliases 'Negro,' 37; 'Jonathan,' 22; 'Justine,' 29; and 'Teyob,' 32.

According to Philippines News Agency, an undercover cop from the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) bought a sachet of shabu worth PHP1,000 from Toto inside a residence in Purok Lubi at around 4:30 a.m. The operation led to the recovery of one knot-tied plastic bag, five similar-sized sachets, and 20 smaller sachets containing a total of 200 grams of shabu valued at PHP6,800 per gram.

In a radio interview, CDEU chief Lt. Col. Antonio Benitez said Toto and three of his companions were previously arrested for a drug-related violation. 'Clients from other barangays in the city come here to buy from him,' he said. Charges for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs), Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), and Section 26 (attempt or conspiracy) of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) are being readied against the suspects.