BACOLOD CITY – A total of 25 stalls at the Vendor’s Plaza were subjected to a clearing operation conducted by officials of a barangay here to ensure they were not used in any illegal drug transaction.
The clearing operation came a day after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Negros Occidental dismantled a drug den at Barangay 12 here Monday, Feb. 20.
During the buy-bust operation, three persons were arrested and 17 grams of shabu worth P115,600 were seized.
PDEA identified the subject as Remia Espartero, 56, of Barangay 12, while two others were identified as JC Dale Clair Monte, 35, of Barangay Alijis here, and banana vendor, and Benjie Despe, 37, of Barangay Singcang-Airport alsi in this city.
Monte and Despe were caught allegedly in the act of holding a ‘pot session’ during the transaction with Espartero, the PDEA reported.
It took them two weeks to validate the information they received about the alleged rampant selling of illegal drugs in the area, according to PDEA.
The PDEA conducted the same operation two years ago, but some stalls were still occupied and were covered with cloth for their personal space.
Barangay 12 Captain Ely Alcantara said that most of the people who were occupying the stalls there are not residents of the said village.
Alcantara said that he will deploy some barangay watchmen to secure the area.