BACOLOD CITY -- At least 13 individuals, including a former watchman, were arrested in separate buy-bust operations that led to the recovery of P835,200 worth of suspected shabu here and in Negros Occidental over the weekend.
Of the figure, P499,800 worth of suspected shabu was confiscated in the province, while P335,400 worth of the said contraband was seized in Bacolod City.
In Negros Occidental, authorities arrested Rogelio Montelibano, 49, resident of Barangay Purisima, Manapla town and a former barangay watchman, who allegedly yielded 55.3 grams of suspected shabu worth P376,040 on Saturday.
Capt. Jaynick Bermudez, Manapla town police chief, said that Montelibano was placed under surveillance last year allegedly for drug use, until the police learned of the suspect’s alleged involvement in illegal drug trade.
On that same day in San Carlos City, police also arrested Roger Cajuelan, 40, his alleged clients - Angelo Escuadro, 32, and Jose Rodjen Bacurnay, 34, and the latter's uncle John Marco Bacurnay, 34, all residents of Barangay Buluangan.
Lt. Ruby Aurita, deputy police chief of San Carlos City Police Station, said that Cajuelan's companions were under the drugs watchlist of the police station.
A check of police records showed that John Marco had been arrested for a drug offense in 2018 and was later released through plea bargaining, Aurita said.
Confiscated from them were 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000, the P1,000 marked money, and P1,230.
Aurita said that Cajuelan also yielded a .38 caliber revolver loaded with six live ammunition.
Also last Saturday, the police arrested Roy Quilong-Quilong, 34, of Barangay 35 here, for possession of 33 grams of suspected shabu worth P224,400, and the P1,000 marked money.
Lt. Joeven Mogato, head of City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), said that Quilong-Quilong had previously served his sentence for a drug offense.
Meanwhile, police also seized P21,760 worth of suspected shabu in the cities of Cadiz, Bago, and La Carlota in the province, and P111,000 worth of the said contraband was also confiscated in Barangays Mansilingan and Montevista here from March 18 to 19.