A woman and her nephew were arrested for allegedly selling illegal drugs in Dalaguete town, south Cebu, while three motorcycle-riding men were stopped with drugs in their possession at a checkpoint in Asturias town on Friday.
Two other men were arrested with drugs in Mandaue and Cebu cities.
In Dalaguete town, police arrested Marialita “Nanay” Flores, 60, and her nephew Jules Indangan, 33, in a buy-bust operation in barangay Obong.
Seized during the operation were six small packs of suspected shabu and four white crystalline stones believed to be shabu. The drug haul was estimated to be worth P2,700, said police.
Also seized were two cellular phones and the P300 buy-bust money.
Police said Flores had a pending arrest warrant for drug charges issued by Judge Maximo Perez of Branch 26.
Insp. Dexter Basirgo, chief of the Dalaguete police, said the woman operated in the southern towns of Alcoy and Barili.
Flores managed a sari-sari store but police said they believe that selling illegal drugs was her main business.
Flores was the subject of a previous operation last Thursday but she eluded arrest.
Basirgo said they were surprised that only a few packs were seized during the operation. Based on prior information, the woman had just received a delivery of drugs from her supplier prior to the arrest.
Police said they suspect that some of the drugs were kept in a neighbor’s house.
Flores has been giving free rice to some of her neighbors to ensure their goodwill so they would not squeal.
Basirgo said some neighbors were not cooperative in the police operation.
In barangay Uwak, Asturias town, northwest Cebu, Ricky Encarguez, 26; Christopher Calo, 33; and Romeo Jimenez, 24, yielded drugs in a police checkpoint.
According to the investigation, the three men were on board a motorcycle when they were flagged down in a checkpoint.
The three did not stop and tried to speed off and hit the policeman manning the checkpoint.
Police chased the riders and eventually caught up with them.
Each men yielded three small packs of suspected shabu, said police.
Charges for possession of illegal drugs and disobedience to an agent of a person in authority will be filed against the three men, said police.
In V. Rama Avenue, Cebu City, Stella Cabellon Villacorta, 21, was arrested after she allegedly sold a pack of suspected shabu to a police asset.
Four more big plastic packs of suspected shabu were recovered from the woman after the arrest.
She refused to issue a comment.
In sitio Kamansi, barangay Paknaan, Mandaue, Nardito Remulta was arrested after selling a a pack of suspected shabu worth P100.
One more pack with white crystalline substance was recovered from him.
Insp. Wilson Abot, chief of police station 5, said they have been monitoring Remulta after he was included in a police list of persons believed to be involved in selling illegal drugs./WITH REPORTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS CHITO O. ARAGON AND NORMAN V. MENDOZA