Agusan policemen raid floating ‘shabu tiangge’

TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur—Policemen swooped down on a floating house along the Agusan River here early Sunday and seized 3 grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and paraphernalia with a street value of P35,000.

They arrested the owner of the shabu tiangge (flea market) in Barangay San Agustin, identified as John Durando Mamaran Jr., 32, and No. 1 in the list of target drug personalities under “Operation Sibat,” said Senior Insp. Bjorn Tabucon, municipal police chief.

Arrested with Mamaran was his alleged cohort, Paolo Marco Nuer, 21.

The raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Hector Salise of the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Bayugan City. It was witnessed by village councilors Lorry Ann Goloran and Renerion Barrera.

Mamaran said he was already preparing himself to go to the municipal hall to surrender to local officials when he was caught.

In neighboring Prosperidad town, lawmen arrested another suspected big-time shabu pusher in Awa village. They recovered about 50 grams of shabu with a street price of P590,000.

Senior Insp. Jerry Fernandez, municipal police chief, identified the suspect as Ronnie Grome, 35, alias “Opaw,” who was No. 9 on the list of target drug personalities. Arrested with Grome was Gerald Armamento, 37.

At least 10 shabu pushers surrendered to the police in Veruela town after the successful antidrug drive dubbed “Operation Tokhang” in the villages of Don Mateo, Bacay II and Sinubong.

They vowed to police and local officials that they will stop their illegal drug trade.