CAMP MARCELO A. ADDURU, Tuguegarao City – A drug suspect and two others were arrested in three separate operations in Santiago City, Isabela province and Gattaran and Solana towns, both in Cagayan province on Wednesday.
Police Regional Office 2 (Cagayan Valley) public information officer Chevalier Iringa said Thursday the suspects were identified as: Leah Miranda Ancheta, a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) high-value target, 43, single, unemployed, resident of Purok 4, Barangay Rizal, Santiago City in Isabela; Erwin Pecson dela Cruz, 43, single, high school graduate, driver, resident of Barangay Lapogan, Gattaran, Cagayan; and Edwin Samonte Castro of Barangay Calilliauan Solana, also in Cagayan.
Police reports showed joint personnel of the Santiago Drug Enforcement Unit Police Station 1, Regional Drug Enforcement Unit of PRO-2 and PDEA-2 conducted a drug buy-bust operation that resulted in the arrest of Ancheta after she sold one sachet containing a substance believed to be “shabu”, weighing about 1 gram, to a PDEA undercover agent for PHP5,000.
Meanwhile, joint personnel of the Gattaran police and 203rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion conducted a buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of dela Cruz. Confiscated from him were two sachets of suspected shabu and PHP1,000 buy-bust money.
Personnel of the Solana police also conducted a buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of Castro, who sold one sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover agent. Confiscated from him were one sachet of suspected shabu and two PHP500 bills.
The suspects are facing charges of violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PR/PNA)
