Bacolod city: Operatives of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrested two top drug personalities in Negros Occidental in a buy-bust at a residence in Camella Subdivision, Barangay Mandalagan here Monday night. Police identified the suspects as alias 'Tata or Ramyr,' 53, resident of the place of operation, and alias 'Anthony,' 45, of Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City.
According to Philippines News Agency, operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) recovered 1.3 kilograms of shabu worth PHP8.84 million from the two suspects after they sold PHP6,000 worth of shabu to an undercover policeman. In an interview on Tuesday, BCPO Director Col. Joeresty Coronica stated that the CDEU conducted surveillance for six weeks before the successful operation at past 6 p.m. on Monday.
"This will lessen the supply of illegal drugs here. Based on information, that supply is intended for the Sinulog Festival in Kabankalan City," he added. 'Tata or Ramyr' is a top regional priority drug personality and the number one target-listed drug personality in Kabankalan City, while "Anthony" is in the list of drug personalities of a barangay anti-drug abuse council and a member of the notorious Bugalon drug group operating in southern Negros.
In a separate report, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region stated that the BCPO-CDEU received a report from a confidential informant on the suspects' involvement in illegal drug activities in the cities of Kabankalan, Himamaylan, and La Carlota, as well as the neighboring Cauayan and Binalbagan towns in Negros Occidental. In this highly urbanized city, they are operating in barangays Bata and Mandalagan, it added.
"The successful operation significantly cut off the supply of illegal drugs intended for distribution during the Sinulog Festival. The PRO-NIR effectively prevented illegal substances from reaching festival-goers to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and drug-free celebration," PRO-NIR spokesperson Lt. Col. Joem Malong said in a statement. The suspects, who are detained at the BCPO Police Station 3, will be charged for violation of Article 2, Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs), Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), and Section 26 (attempt or conspiracy) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
