CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Authorities arrested the number one high-value target for illegal drugs in the province Bukidnon during a search and seizure operation at Purok-2A, Poblacion village in Lantapan town on Tuesday, April 5.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Lantapan police chief Maj. Jayvee Babaan identified the suspect as Ronald Rivas alyas 'Botchoy', 45, a farmer in Lantapan.
The search and seizure warrant was implemented for violation of Republic Act. No. 10591 also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
During the operation, operatives confiscated one unit of cal. 45 Syracuse Pistol with serial no. 81753, one steel magazine, seven cartridges, one hand grenade and one fragmentation (M61).
Aside from firearms, the police also recovered a total of six different sizes of sachets containing alleged shabu weighing 4.4 grams with an estimated market value of PHP29,920.
Maj. Babaan also confirmed the suspect had previously been arrested due to the same violation, illegal possession of unlicensed firearms while he was just on probation.
"Possibly, he has this firearm maybe because he is also involved in illegal drugs. That is why it is expected that he has these things," Babaan said.
"The suspect had been arrested before, prior to the operation because of having a firearm without a proper document," Babaan added.
The confiscated evidence was turned over to Lantapan Municipal Police Station for proper documentation, as well as the suspect, who is now detained at the custodial facility, for filing multiple charges.
Col. Jun Mark Lagare, the provincial director of the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office, lauded the operating police personnel for successfully arresting the top 1 high value target of illegal drugs in the province.