5 illegal drug peddlers fall

By Mar S. Arguelles LEGAZPI CITY --- Five suspected illegal drug pushers operating in this city were arrested by law enforcement agents in separate drug buy-bust operations on Tuesday, Feb. 20, confiscating some P400,000 worth of suspected shabu or crystal meth, an illegal drug, Christian Frivaldo Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional director disclosed yesterday, PDEA agents armed with a search warrant arrested Salvacion Ballarbare at her residence at Purok 2, Barangay 28, Victory Village. Seized from her were 60 grams of suspected shabu with the estimated street value of P360,000. At the same time, the agents also arrested Vicky Guzman, alias Rhea, from Caloocan City. She was caught in possession of illegal drugs, according to Frivaldo. Frivaldo revealed Ballarbare is a high-value target (HVT) who is in the agency’s drug watchlist. She is also reported to be a sister of incumbent barangay captain Antonio Loveriza. Both Ballarbare and Guzman are now under custody at the PDEA detention facility. Meanwhile, joint operatives of the PDEA and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Legazpi station in separate buy-bust operations nabbed three suspected illegal drug personalities. Arrested were Sharlon Floranda of Barangay 17, John Bolivar from Barangay 1 and Edgar Sarabia of Barangay 24, all of this city.