Four persons engaged in illegal drug trade were arrested by police and anti-narcotics agents in separate overnight anti-drug operations here and in Banga, South Cotabato, officials said Thursday.
First to fall following a drug buy bust operation was Ricardo Alabado, a 30-year-old known illegal drug pusher in Banga, South Cotabato.
The Banga PNP said Alabado who has been very “innovative” in dealing with his clients has been placed under surveillance for two months after he voluntarily showed up to police September.
He took oath before the local police that he will do away with illegal drugs.
But police were suspicious so he was placed on watch list.
A drug buy bust was launched at 2 a.m. Thursday against Alabado, a resident of Barangay San Vicente, Banga.
Police agents posing as buyers knocked on Alabado’s home to secure stuff. Alabado agreed and as he handed over the stuff to the buyer, he was arrested.
Seized from Alabado were 11 sachets of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride).
In Koronadal City, operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested three persons, including two women, in separate anti-drug operation.
Kath Abad, speaking for PDEA-12, said Rowena Macasaet, 54, alias “Mommy” was arrested following a drug buy bust operation in Navarro subdivision, Koronadal City at 10 p.m. Wednesday.
PDEA agents seized four sachets of shabu from Macasaet who was identified by other drug users as their source of stuff.
“We have been closely watching her, I can’t imagine that at her age she was still into illegal trade,” Abad told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal.
Abad said Macasaet manages a boarding house and most of her clients are her boarders, students and even professionals.
At about 11 p.m., another drug buy bust was launched, this time at the corner of Santiago and Abad Santos Streets, Koronadal City, which led to the arrest of Maria Theresa Gunting, 36 and Glen Mark Rivera, 39, both of Jose Abad Santos Street.
Narcotics agents seized a huge sachet of shabu and shabu paraphernalia from them.
The suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165. (PNA)
