Police operatives recover P185M worth of cocaine bricks in Eastern Samar, 6 arrested

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 2, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Elements of the Philippine National Police have recovered 33 cocaine bricks amounting to P185 million and apprehended six persons who were selling the same, in two separate buy bust operations in Eastern Samar on June 30, 2010.

In a press conference held at the PNP Region 8 Headquarters, Director Rey Lañada together with PDEA 8 Director Julius Navales, informed the local media that the buy bust operations were conducted by operatives from the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force from Camp Crame headed by PSSupt. Eduardo P. Acierto together with the joint elements of PNP8 under Director Lañada, personnel of the Eastern Samar Provincial Police under PSSupt. Felixberto Castillo, RID PRO8 chief Crizaldo Nieves, and Borongan Police Station chief Rosula Sabio Mambulao.

The group acted with the guidance of PDG Jesus A. Verzosa and PDDG Edgardo Acuna, Task Force Commander of AIDSOTF, who ordered the intensified operations after receiving information that huge volume of cocaine are being sold by a group of fishermen in Eastern Samar.

The police operatives were able to apprehend six sellers of suspected cocaine bricks in a successive buy bust operations conducted on June 30 in several parts of Borongan, Eastern Samar, and in Maydolong, Eastern Samar.

Buy bust operations conducted at Pebbles Resort, Opal St., Purok Remas, Barangay Bato, Borongan, Eastern Samar resulted to the arrest of John Carl Cabo y Hermano alias Caloy, 23 years old, single, jobless and resident of Barangay D-1, Baybay, Borongan; and his companion Ian Dizor y Ampong, 22 years old, single, college student and resident of Barangay Alangalang of the same town.

The two were selling two bricks of cocaine weighing about 2 kilograms to PNP poseur. Also confiscated from the suspects was one Isuzu motorcycle 150cc, color black and silver with plate number 3761 HC.

Another buy bust operation conducted at about 1:30 in the morning of the same date at the same place, resulted to the arrest of Noli Basilga y Catubay, 34 years old, single, laborer and a resident of Barangay Sabang, Suribao, Borongan; and the confiscation of 9 bricks of cocaine weighing about 9 kilograms and one Honda XL color black, with plate number HD4571.

At about 9:50 in the morning of the same date, another buy bust operation conducted by the same elements resulted to the arrest of Alfonso Amiday y Bula, 40, married and resident of Barangay Umiwas, Maydulong, Eastern Samar; and confiscation of 4 cocaine bricks, caliber .45 pistol colt marx IV Series 80 with serial number 890012 with one magazine, seven live ammunitions and a black Honda motorcycle with plate number 7882 HB.

Other buy bust operations conducted at about 2:30 in the afternoon of the same day, at Sitio Pipil-oton, Barangay Maybocog, Maydolong town, resulted to the arrest of Gil Cape y Lazarra, 36 years old, single and resident of Purok 1, Barangay Maybocog and Danilo Dala y Montes, 50 years old, balut vendor and resident of Purok 5, Barangay Maybocog; and the confiscation of 2 bricks of cocaine.

The suspects are now under the custody of the PNP for investigation and proper documentation, medical/physical and drug testing. The confiscated pieces of evidence were submitted to the PNP Crime Lab for examinations.

Cases of violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 are being prepared for filing against the arrested suspects. Another case, that of violation of PD 1866 as amended will be filed against suspect Alfonso Amida y Bula.

Follow up buy bust operations are being undertaken by the joint teams for possible recovery of more cocaine bricks and arrest of other suspects.

Series of surveillance operations were conducted from June 25 to June 29 in Eastern Samar prior to the conduct of buy bust operations on the 30th of June.