Yuletide drug busts nabs pusher, seized 38K worth of “shabu”, “marijuana”

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
December 27, 2012

CAMP SEC. RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – While everybody was celebrating the Christmas season, anti-illegal drugs teams of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) went on with their usual work, arresting a suspected drug pusher in the process and confiscating a total of P38,000.00 worth of illegal drugs.

Eastern Visayas Director Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria commended his men for doing their job instead of getting busy with the holidays.

“For these men, the Christmas season means work, work and work,” Soria said, adding that appropriate recognition will be given to those who participated in the successful operations.

Soria informed that at around 10:30 o’clock in the evening of December 22, at Del Rosario Street, Brgy 4 in Catbalogan City, joint elements of Regional Special Operations Group 8 (RSOG), 2nd Company of Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB8) and Catbalogan City Police Station led by Police Inspector Constantino Jabonete, Jr. arrested one Henry Durano y Alpino, 32, married, collector of Nestle’ Products and a resident of Purok 3, Brgy Mercedes, Catbalogan City.

Alpino was nabbed after selling 2 heat-sealed sachet containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” with estimated market value of P1,000.00 to a poseur-buyer.

The police team recovered from his possession the two P500.00 bills used as buy-bust money with serial numbers SQ885661 and KE841544 and one unit Honda XRM Motorcycle allegedly used in his drug trade with Serial and Chassis Number XRM11-037-022377 and Certificate of Registration No 74032716 issued by Land Transportation Office on October 30, 2003 to certain Rollo Saturnino Jr of Brgy Adela Heights, Gandara Samar.

Police further recovered from the suspect one heat-sealed plastic sachet containing dried marijuana leaves worth P300.00.

Alpino is currently detained at Catbalogan City Police Station lock-up cell while the PNP is preparing drug charges against him.

Meanwhile, on Christmas eve, anti-illegal drugs operatives of Tacloban City Police Office led by Police Chief Inspector Jesus Son conducted buy-bust operation at Brgy. 39, Siren District.

Suspect Mario Macawile however, eluded arrests after sensing that he was transacting illegal drug trade to a policeman acting as poseur-buyer, by running towards nearby houses bringing with him the P500.00 bill buy-bust money while the P500.00 worth of illegal drugs was left with the police officer.

The police team conducted a brief chase to no avail but illegal drugs fell from the suspect’s pocket while he was evading the law enforcers.

The items were seen in plain view near a well-lighted electrical post composed of 12 small sachets of “shabu” with market value of P6,000.00; one big sachet of “shabu” weighing more or less 5 grams worth P30,000.00 and two teabags of dried “marijuana” leaves.

The items were brought to TCPO Police Station 2 for inventory and witnessed by Brgy. Tanod Dennis Anthony Dellera.

Soria ordered a manhunt operation against Macawile as drug charges is being prepared against him.

As this developed, Soria reiterated his call for active community involvement in the anti-illegal drugs war.