PDEA agents collar 6 suspects, P1.2M worth of shabu in Albay

By Celso Amo LEGAZPI CITY --- Anti-illegal drugs operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recovered some 300 grams of shabu worth P1.250M during a sting operation early morning Friday inside an inn in nearby Daraga town in Albay. PDEA-Albay operatives led by Enrique Lucero conducted a sting operation at about 12:10 a.m. at Room 61 of Neuhauz Inn that resulted in the arrest of Marlon Fernandez y Llenas alyas “Bok Fernandez”, 40, single, of Barangay Iraya in Guinobatan, Albay; Lorraine Santiago y Casilum, 28, single of Block 7, Lot 4 Phase 1 from Antipolo City; and Elmeph Conciado y Calimutan, 37, married of No. 17 Sinuna Village in Barangay Mambugan in Antipolo City. Recovered from the drug suspects were about 250 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P1M including buy-bust money and other non-drug items. Fifty minutes later, another team from PDEA-Albay led by Noe Briguel also conducted an operation at Room 49 of the same inn that resulted in the arrest of Josdm Tabuena y Bartolata, Jr., 55, alyas “Third” of No. 33 at First Park Subdivision in Barangay Sagpon, Daraga, Albay; Jan Mark Rapisura y Balguma, 32, alyas “Matik” of Barangay Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay; and Jomel Dela Cruz y Orpiada, 21, single of Barangay Dunao, Ligao City. Supt. Elcid Roldan, Daraga police chief, said the suspects were immediately brought to Camp General Simeon Ola where the regional office of PDEA in Bicol is located for further investigation and documentation. “We are pleased with the arrest of these illegal drug suppliers as our police continue to support PDEA, as well as monitor the movements of illegal drug suppliers and users here,” said Roldan. Christian Frivaldo, PDEA-Bicol regional director, said the agency is closely monitoring the source of illegal drugs in the region based on successful drug operations. He recalled that in November last year two Nigerians connected with Afrikan drug ring were nabbed in Kawit, Cavite with a kilogram of shabu worth P6M during a follow-up operation after PDEA nabbed four drug couriers in Naga City while in transit from Metro Manila carrying a kilogram of shabu. In December last year, PDEA and Sorsogon police also seized a kilo of shabu worth P7.7M during a sting operation against a big-time shabu supplier in Barangay Oro Site, this city. In May this year, 500 grams of shabu worth P3.4M were also seized from a suspect at the Legazpi City Boulevard in Barangay Puro here. “Supply of illegal drugs usually comes from outside of Bicol,” Frivaldo added.