Police on Sunday arrested four suspects , seized 28 kilos of shabu valued at P200 million in in Cebu City and took into custody a package of cocaine in Baler, Quezon, the 12th that washed ashore in Philippine territory, since the first package of the narcotics shipment surfaced on February 10.
PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said the Cebu operations formed part of PNP’s intensified campaign against high value targets (HVTs) and illegal drug syndicates.
Cebu City Police Director, Col. Royena Grama in a report to Camp Crame said the first operation was conducted around 1:30 a.m. resulting in the arrest of Elymar Tampo Ancajas, tagged as HVT of Fatima Homes, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.
Police also conducted another operation against Jocelyn Encila inside Mendero Hospital in Consolacion, Cebu where the suspect was confined due to dehydration.
A police poseur-buyer ordered two kilos of shabu from the suspect but since the latter was in the hospital, she asked the buyer to get the illegal drugs from her parents identified as Marcial and Marilyn Encila in Green Valley Subdivision, Barangay Casili in Consolacion.
After getting the drugs fromEncila‘s parents, the police poseur buyer arrested her parents.
During clearing operation inside Encila’s house, police recovered four more packs of suspected shabu weighing 10 kilos with street value of PP68 million.
The arrested suspects, now detained at Cebu City Police Office, face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In Aurora province, a construction worker found another brick of cocaine along the shoreline in Baler.
Ariel Gonzales Valenzuela discovered the pack of cocaine floating in the waters of Barangay Reserva, Baler around 5 a.m. on Sunday and reported the finding to Barangay chairman Michael Guerro Valenzuela.
The brick of suspected cocaine was wrapped in black plastic and has the “Lexus” label.
The recovered item weighing one kilo was brought to the Baler police station.
Banac commended the strong cooperation and vigilance of the public, resulting in the recovery of the floating cocaine in various parts of the country.
Fishermen and coastal residents have so far recovered 100 kilos of bricks of cocaine with estimated value of P871 million along the shores of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Island, Davao Oriental, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Aurora.