Intensified anti-illegal drugs drive in EV nets 8 suspects

The top police official in Eastern Visayas reiterated his directive to his men to continue hitting hard on criminal elements behind the trafficking of illegal drugs in the region even as he announced the arrest of eight drug suspects in a series of police operations conducted recently. “While we are gaining headway in our campaign, all police units must sustain intensified police operations against illegal drugs as the drug menace will always remain as one of our primary concerns,” said Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) chief PCSupt. Elmer R. Soria.

Soria added that recent focused police operations in Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar and Biliran have resulted in the arrest of eight suspected drug pushers and the confiscation of sizeable volume of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu”, several drug paraphernalia and two short firearms. The police official identified the suspects as Leonilo Orzal, 32; Allan Cabulang, 29; Dario Damaso, 36; Reynaldo Ranola alias Rickman, 47; Roy Villamora, 35; Kemuel Caones, 25; Eric Mendoza, 43 and Carmen Bolotaolo, 42.

Orzal, Cabulang and Damaso were arrested in a buybust operation early Tuesday morning at Brgy. Bunga in Biliran province by the Regional Special Operations Group 8 (RSOG8) under PSInsp. Dinvir Revita that also led to the confiscation of two sachet of suspected “shabu”, P500-bill buybust money and several drug paraphernalia. At 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, a buybust operation by a police team from Calbayog City Police Station led by PSupt. Elmer B. Cinco at Purok 5, Brgy. East Awang in Calbayog City led to the arrest of Ranola and the seizure of two medium-sized sachets containing suspected “shabu”; P2000-bill used as buybust money and one black Cherry mobile phone.

Villamora and Caones, meanwhile, were arrested in a buybust operation by a composite police team from Alangalang police station and Leyte Police Provincial Office under the supervision of PCInsp. Santi Noel Matira at Brgy. San Antonio, Alangalang town in Leyte. Two small heat-sealed sachets of “shabu” and P500-bill marked money were confiscated from the suspects.

In Maasin City, couple Mendoza and Balotaolo were nabbed in a manhunt operation early Wednesday morning at Brgy. Mantahan by a police team led by PCInsp. Reynaldo Torlao. Balotalo was arrested based in an arrest warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 under criminal case number 13-08-3946 issued by Judge Ma. Daisy Paler Gonzalez of Regional Trial Court Branch 25 in Maasin City.

During the arrest, the duo was caught in the act of segregating and repacking suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu”. Aside from three sachets of suspected “shabu” granules and several drug paraphernalia, one unit .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver loaded with five ammunitions and one unit .22 caliber magnum Black Widow revolver, both without serial numbers, and 11 ammunitions for .22 caliber were confiscated in plain view by the arresting policemen.

The eight suspects are now detained at police station lock-up cells while Soria assured that arresting policemen will actively attend all the prosecution proceedings so that the suspects will be eventually convicted for drug offenses filed against them.