PLACER, Masbate, Nov. 15 (PNA) — Combined elements of five law enforcement units simultaneously raided five residences in this town, found four yielding illegal drugs and arrested five suspects on Saturday.
Apprehended were Carlos Cantiga, Ernesto B. Abarri, Ronnie B. Ayque, Rossell B. Bandolon and Jessie H. Añonuevo.
Masbate Police Provincial Office (MPPO), Placer Municipal Police Station, Masbate Provincial Public Safety Company, Criminal Investigation and Detection Team and Maritime Police did the successful operation in line with the ideals of the PNP P.A.T.R.O.L Plan 2030 and Oplan Lambat Sibat, Police Senior Supt. Prexy Dugas Tanggawohn, MPPO officer-in-charge, said.
The raiding team was armed with search warrants issued by Judge Manuel L. Sese of RTC, Branch 45, Masbate City.
The law officers cornered Cantiga in Barangay San Marcos and caught Abarri in Barangay Poblacion.
They collared Aque, Bandolon and Añonuevo in Barangay Katipunan.
The operatives also confiscated 10 sachets of suspected shabu and several drug paraphernalia such as improvised burners and scoops, lighters, aluminum foils, bundles of empty plastic sachets.
They also recovered cash believed coming from illegal drug transactions amounting to Php 11,748.00 from Bandolon and Abarri.
The suspects are now facing court charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Tanggawohn said the raid is part of the PNP One-Time-Big-Time operation.
He said that though illegal drugs cannot be totally eradicated yet they aimed at reducing the supply in the province.
Tanggawohn also lauded the cooperation of all law enforcers involved in making the operation a success.
“These are the people who do the retail and if we will not do something to them; it is like not addressing the street level operation because there are more of them. The fight against these street level retailers will make a significant impact in our operation,” the police official said.(PNA)