DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized PHP504,700 worth of illegal drugs during five simultaneous operations in different provinces starting Tuesday evening up to early dawn of Wednesday.
PDEA-11 Deputy Regional Director Behn Joseph Tesiorna on Wednesday said the seized items consist of 32 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, with a street value of P443,500; and 510 grams of marijuana worth P61,200 pesos.
“Our operatives are now inspired to operate because of the new equipment given to us by our national office, and this our way of (showing) gratitude to them,” Tesiorna said.
The operation started around 6 p.m. on July 3, in which Jestoni Sabaane, 30, was nabbed in Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental after he allegedly sold the 500 grams of marijuana to a PDEA agent acting as a poseur-buyer.
On the same evening, Angelito dela Victoria, 50, was arrested outside his house at Luzviminda Subdivision, Barangay San Francisco, Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
Dela Victoria allegedly sold a sachet of shabu weighing one gram, worth PHP8,000 to an agent. Upon frisking, operatives said they were able to recover five more sachets of shabu weighing 20 grams with an estimated value of PHP300,000.
Also on July 3, at a round 10:30 p.m. PDEA agents in Davao Oriental arrested construction worker Christian Trimidal, 25, outside his house in Barangay Central, Mati City after selling a sachet of shabu worth P500.
Another five grams of shabu worth P75,000 was seized from Trimidal when his body was searched.
In the early dawn of July 4, a student identified as Joseph Manugas, 23, and a resident of Monkayo Compostela Valley Province was arrested at National Highway, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Manugas allegedly sold a gram of shabu worth PHP10,000 to an operative and upon frisking, another two sachets of shabu were taken from his possession.
Still on July 4, a driver identified as Alvin Corpuz, 28, from Trento, Agusan del Sur was nabbed selling a five-gram medium pack of shabu worth P50,000 to an operative, also in Tagum City.
Upon search on Corpuz, two more small sachets were taken from him. Tesiorna said their operations were done in coordination with the respective police units of the Police Provincial Offices of Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental.
The PDEA-11 official said the suspects are facing charges for violation sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Armando Fenequito/PNA)
