P1-M shabu seized from passenger at Bacolod port


BACOLOD CITY – A 36-year-old man bound for Dumangas, Iloilo was arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) port here after he allegedly yielded 150 grams of suspected shabu worth P1,020,000 after avoiding an inspection on Sunday, Sept. 25.

A PDEA agent conducts an inventory of the 150 grams of suspected shabu worth more than P1 million seized from a passenger at Bredco port in Bacolod City on Sunday, Sept. 25. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-Western Visayas)

The PDEA-Western Visayas identified the suspect as Rhemhon Dumancas of Barangay Padlad, Dumangas,

PDEA said Dumancas allegedly sidestepped the random paneling of luggages at the seaport, prompting authorities to chase him.

Dumancas allegedly threw something before he was cornered by the PDEA. Upon checking, PDEA found out that it was illegal drugs for transport to Iloilo.

PDEA said that Dumancas' modus was similar to Marcial delos Santos Jr., who was also intercepted at the Bredco port, after a narcotic-sniffing dog detected illegal drugs worth P1,020,000 on his bag before he boarded a roll-on, roll-off (Roro) vessel to Dumangas on Sept. 14.

Dumancas is detained at Police Station 2 for the filing of drug charges.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Sherlock Gabana, spokesperson of the Bacolod City police, said they could not confirm if the recovered illegal drugs were sourced out here since it is possible that it may also have come from outside the city and just passed through Bacolod.

Gabana said the successful monitoring of concerned agencies led to the arrest of Dumancas.