Operatives of the joint Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force yesterday arrested three suspected drug pushers in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental and seized about P70,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” from them.

One of the suspects, Richard Ortega, of Poblacion Barangay 9 in Tanjay, evaded arrest during the drug buy-bust and entrapment operation, Insp. Janelito Marquez, chief of the PAIDSOTF of the Negros Oriental Philippine National Police Office, said.

The two other suspects, who are now detained, were identified as Anthony Marie Cuevas, 21, and Rico Torres, in his mid-30’s, both residents of Tanjay.

Marquez said two undercover agents posing as buyers transacted with the three suspects at about 1:30 p.m. yesterday at Sitio Opao, Poblacion Barangay 9, close to the residence of Ortega.

As the operatives closed in on the suspects, Ortega managed to flee and some of the agents put up a chase but the suspect remains at large as of press time yesterday.

Seized during the operation were two heat-sealed plastic sachets each containing at least five grams of “shabu”, with an estimated street value of P35,000 each, and a P500 in marked bill on top of “boodle” money, or strips of paper money used for the entrapment operation, were also recovered.

Also recovered by the task force were two newly grown suspected marijuana plants in the front yard of Ortega’s house.

The plants were uprooted in the presence of barangay officials, a representative from the Department of Justice, and the media.

The PAIDSOTF is a composite team of operatives from the PNP, Philippine Enforcement Drug Agency, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and National Bureau of Investigation.*JFP

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