CEBU CITY – Police here seized more than P21-million worth of shabu from two suspected drug pushers in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Mabolo on Tuesday night, Nov. 1.
Police identified the suspects as Christian Amistad, 32, and Jason Taborada Turno, 36, residents of Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City.
Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba, chief of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, and Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, arrived in the area where the two suspects were cornered.
Alba said that investigation showed that Amistad is a former overseas Filipino worker who ventured into illegal drug peddling two months ago.
“He was placed under surveillance for one month,” Alba said.
Alba said there are other “big personalities” involved but police are still conducting validation. “We are still pursuing some big personalities,” Alba said.
Suspects yielded packs of suspected shabu weighing 3.2 kilos. Dalogdog said Amistad was capable of selling three to five kilos of shabu a month.
Dalogdog said Turno served as a drug courier and was monitored by police for the past six months. “He is the one who delivers illegal drugs to Amistad for distribution,” said Dalogdog.
The CCPO chief added that the suspects were responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs in Barangays Hipodromo, Carreta, Mabolo, and neighboring villages.
Alba and Dalogdog said the suspects thought they will be able to sell as police are busy securing the observance of “Kalag-kalag (Undas).”
“They thought that our focus was on securing ‘Undas’ but we do not take for granted our campaign against criminality,” Alba said.
Dalogdog assured the public that the relentless campaign against illegal drugs will continue.
“We are in close coordination with the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) and other stakeholders to solve this drug problem,” Dalogdog said.