Anti-narcotics authorities arrested on Saturday, Feb. 5, two drug suspected drug peddlers and seized some P340,000 worth of shabu and chemicals that are being used to make explosives during an operation in Balud, Masbate.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Masbate Provincial Office said that live-in partners Jyrel dela Cruz and Delia Banyez were nabbed at 6:40 a.m. at Purok Balanak in Barangay Tunga.
During the raid, the operatives confiscated one heat-sealed transparent bag containing more or less 50 grams of shabu placed in a cigarette pack, one genuine P500 bill with serial number MV524001 placed on top of boodle money and one unit of Skydrive motorcycle.
After further search, authorities found a yellow eco-bag containing five pieces of blasting caps and one plastic bag of ammonium nitrate weighing more or less five kilos, a chemical used in making explosives.
Dela Cruz previously surrendered to the police at the height of “Operation:Tokhang’’ drug campaign but went back to his old drug peddling ways that led to his arrest.
“The strong camaraderie and close coordination among law enforcement agencies is very evident in the province of Masbate and based on the courtesy visit recently made by our office to the newly assigned PNP Masbate Chief, Pol. Col. Rolly Dalanon Albaña, he reiterated this close coordination to avoid misencounters and have a more effective anti-criminality approach’’, PDEA Masbate chief, Rodel Federis Abina said.
Dela Cruz and Banyez face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002’’ and Republic Act 9516 or the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.”
The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon any person who shall willfully and unlawfully manufacture, assemble, deal in, acquire, dispose, import or possess any part, ingredient, machinery, or instrument of any explosive or incendiary device, whether chemical, mechanical, electronic or electrical. (Chito A. Chavez)