2 women held over P5.9-M shabu
Police arrested two women and seized about 863 grams of suspected shabu worth P5,868,400 in a buy-bust operation in Dagupan City at around 11:30 p.m. on 5 November.
The operation was led by the Dagupan City Police Office’s City Police Drug Enforcement Unit, with the City Intelligence Unit, Police Station 2 and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit 1, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 1.
Police identified the suspects as a 37-year-old woman from Mangaldan, Pangasinan, and a 49-year-old unemployed widow from Lingayen. Both were classified as high-value individuals.
Authorities recovered seven packages of suspected shabu — two heat-sealed sachets, four knot-tied bags and another heat-sealed sachet — along with a digital weighing scale, two mobile phones, three bags and the marked and boodle money used in the operation.
The 37-year-old suspect’s two-year-old daughter was at the scene. Police said the child was safeguarded and turned over to the Women and Children Protection Desk at Police Station 2 for care and coordination with social welfare authorities.
The operation used body-worn cameras and alternative recording devices. The seized items were marked and inventoried in the presence of the suspects and required witnesses.
The suspects underwent medical examinations at the Region 1 Medical Center before being brought to the Dagupan City Police Office for documentation and proper disposition.
Charges are being prepared against them for alleged violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Dagupan City Police Office Director PCOL Arnold P. Solomon said the operation reflected the office’s commitment to combating illegal drugs and protecting vulnerable people.
Cebu drug den
In a separate operation, operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 7 and the PNP Regional Intelligence Unit 7 dismantled a drug den and arrested three people, including its alleged maintainer, in Talisay City, Cebu.
The buy-bust was conducted at around 2:30 p.m. on 5 November at Sitio Rattan, Barangay Tangke.
PDEA 7 Regional Director Joel B. Plaza identified the alleged maintainer as alias Rex, 55, a construction helper and resident of Barangay Tangke.
Also arrested were alleged visitors alias Ranulfo, 67, an e-bike driver from Barangay Inayawan, and alias Christopher, 48, a parking attendant from Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City.
Authorities confiscated nine packs of shabu weighing about 11.9 grams, with an estimated market value of P80,920. They also recovered two foil strips, two open plastic sachets with shabu traces, buy-bust money, P300 believed to be drug proceeds, and drug paraphernalia.
The seized evidence was examined by the PDEA 7 Regional Office Laboratory and is subject to proper disposition.
The suspects are temporarily detained at the PDEA 7 detention facility in Lahug, Cebu City, and will face charges for alleged violations of Article II of Republic Act 9165, as amended.
PDEA 7 said drug dens are breeding grounds for violence and other criminal activities, posing a threat to public safety and community peace and order.