PDEA arrests drug pushers in the regions - ABS CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a series of buy-bust operations last week that led to the arrest of 12 suspected drug pushers in various provinces.

Last Monday, agents of PDEA Regional Office 11 (PDEA RO 11) conducted a buy-bust operation along Purok 24, Mangahan, Times Beach in Ecoland, Davao City, leading to the arrest of Billz Delfino, 39, alias Billy; and Joem Suello, 36, alias Pipoy.

Delfino and Suello were caught selling two plastic sachets of shabu weighing about 2.5-grams to an undercover PDEA agent who posed as a buyer.

Also recovered was a Honda scooter with plate number YL6119, which the suspects were using during the transaction.

On the same day, agents of PDEA Regional Office 4B nabbed two drug pushers in Barangay Pag-asa, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro after conducting their own buy-bust operation.

Tricycle driver Ian dela Cruz, 45, was arrested and found to be carrying a sachet of shabu. Later, Aroste Callanga, 45, was also arrested for selling a sachet of shabu to a poseur-buyer.

Last October 19, agents of the PDEA Regional Office Cordillera Autonomous Region (PDEA RO-CAR) arrested three suspected drug pushers along Km. 4, Pico La Trinidad in Benguet after a buy-bust operation.

Christopher Galuten, 37, Carlito Esyaben, 37, and Jonifredo Bekesan, 23, were nabbed after selling three plastic sachets of shabu to a PDEA undercover agent posing as a buyer.

A follow-up operation was conducted the next day, leading to the arrest of Demer Capulong, 23, and Alfredo Limos, 35. They were caught with two plastic sachets of shabu and a cellular phone.

In Cabanatuan City, Noraldin Hadji-Amen was arrested at the Freedom Park in Brgy. Sagitan West after agreeing to a rendezvous with an undercover agent.

Two more suspects were nabbed in Isabela last October 21 by the agents of PDEA Regional Office 2 and the NBI's Cagayan Valley Regional Office.

Regina Ariola, 37, and here live-in partner, Benedict Jacinto, 41, were arrested after the PDEA and NBI agents conducted a search of Jacinto's house, located at Rufino Roque Village, Sitio Quirat, Brgy. Rizal in Santiago City.

Agents seized 10 plastic sachets of shabu, 20 empty plastic sachets containing shabu residue, a cellular phone, and cash amounting to P27,000. A PDEA undercover agent also purchased one plastic sachet of shabu from Ariola prior to the search.

The 12 suspects are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.