CEBU CITY – Two men who allegedly worked for a known drug personality were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Bulacao here on Tuesday night, March 26.
The suspects who were considered as high-value individuals were identified as Joevanie Padigos dela Cerna, 46, and Franco Cortes Corominas, 44.
Seized from them were 1,800 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P12.2 million, said Police Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, chief of the Cebu City Police (CCPO).
Dalogdog said the suspects were tasked to safekeep and deliver illegal drugs in different parts of Metro Cebu.
Dela Cerna is from Barangay Candulawan, Talisay City while Corominas is from Barangay Lahug here.
Dalogdog said the suspects got their supply of illegal drugs through a drug personality who is currently detained in a regional jail facility in Leyte.
The suspects were capable of selling three to five kilos of shabu a week, Dalogdog said.
Dalogdog said that after weeks of surveillance, the CCPO coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas that led to the suspects’ arrest.
Dela Cerna admitted that he was previously jailed for an illegal drug offense.
He said that after he was released from jail, he was tempted to peddle illegal drugs again as he was earning P2,000 per transaction.
Dela Cerna said there were people who they didn’t know who approached them to deliver illegal drugs.