4 arrested in drug busts

Four persons were arrested yesterday in successive drug buy-bust operations conducted by the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Bacolod City and Murcia town, Negros Occidental.

Norabelle Montaño, 50, of Purok Cereza 2 in Brgy. 27, Bacolod City, was arrested near her house by the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group at about 11:20 a.m. yesterday, when he handed a small plastic sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer in exchange for P300, CAIDSOTG head, Supt. Santiago Rapiz, said.

Another small plastic sachet of suspected shabu, P1,400 in cash and a cellular phone, were also seized from Montaño during her arrest, Rapiz also said.

He said they also recovered an elongated plastic sachet of the banned substance from Montaño’s neighbor, Catherine Perez, 35, who was standing beside her during the buy-bust operation.

Montaño and Perez had both been arrested several years ago for illegal drug possession, but the charges against Perez were dismissed, the police said.

Rapiz also reported the arrest of Ramon Leganipa, 44, of Purok Mahigugmaon in Brgy. 22, Bacolod, in a buy-bust operation at about 2:30 p.m. and allegedly seized from him an elongated sachet of suspected shabu, P1,560 in cash and a cellular phone.

DISPATCHER, TOO

Two hours later, PDEA, led by Investigation Agent 1 Gulibert Sumalancay arrested Joery Pamatian, 33, a dispatcher in Murcia town, at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday when he handed a small sachet to one of the agents, who acted as a poseur buyer in exchange for P300.

Pamatian’s arrest also resulted on the confiscation of another sachet of the banned substance and P100 in cash, Sumalancay said.

In Brgy. Zone 7, Talisay City on Monday, suspected drug peddler Panfilo Noquillo, alias Ezer, was arrested by the police during a buy-bust operation.

Supt. Joseph Martir, Talisay police chief, said the arrest of Noquillo yielded 20 plastic sachets of suspected shabu, P543 in cash believed to be proceeds from the sale of the prohibited drugs and P300 in marked money. The estimated market value of the confiscated shabu was P10,000.

ILLEGAL GAMBLING

Also on Monday, policemen raided a residence of a certain Leonardo Villaester in Sagay City, by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Reginald Fuentebella, for violation of Republic Act 9262, or the amended law on illegal gambling.

Chief Insp. Gabriel Gutierrez, Sagay police chief, yesterday said the raid yielded P1,106 in alleged cash bets, and assorted jai alai gambling paraphernalia, while Villaester is now in jail.

Two men, who are facing charges for violation of RA 9165 and RA 9262, were also arrested Sunday by the police in the cities of Victorias and Himamaylan, Negros Occidental.

Policemen also apprehended Ronel Germino, 36, in Brgy. 19-A, Victorias City, by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Silay Regional Trial Court Judge Felipe Banzon, for violation of RA 9165, who recommended a P200,000 bail for his release.

Judge Franklin Demonteverde also recommended a P60,000 bail for Joemar Baydo, who was arrested by the police in Hacienda Benedicto, Brgy. Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City, for violation of RA 9262, or illegal gambling police records also showed.*APN/GPB

back to top

Station 2 CoP ordered
to report on manhandling

Bacolod City Police Officer-in-Charge, Senior Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel, yesterday ordered Station 2 chief, Senior Insp. Robert Dejucos, to submit an investigation report on the claims of an inmate that a policeman manhandled him while he was detained Friday.

Robbery suspect Delby Murillo, alias “Nene Bukol” 18, of Purok Lubi, Brgy. 3, Bacolod, said he was sleeping when a cop, whom he identified as “Lumogdang”, woke him up and transferred him to another cell at about 6 p.m., electrocuted, and manhandled him.

Ordaniel said the investigation report of Dejucos will be forwarded to the BCPO Investigation Branch, who will determine if the accusations against the policeman, whose complete name is Police Officer 1 Ryan Lumogdang, are true or not.

He said that if Lumogdang, indeed, committed the act, then he and his direct supervisor will be held administratively liable.

Commission on Human Rights-Negros Occidental head, Romeo Baldevarona, had earlier said they can conduct an immediate investigation on the incident, even without the official complaint from Murillo, or his family.

Baldevarona said he is wondering why Murillo was still at Police Station 2 and was not transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology despite having been arrested for a robbery attempt on a plainclothes policeman in Purok Cagaycay in Brgy. 2 in December yet.*APN

back to top