Five suspected drug pushers fall in Quezon buy-bust ops

LUCENA CITY – Five suspected shabu dealers – including a woman – were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in different towns in Quezon province on Sunday, police said Monday.

In a report, Quezon police director Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento said anti-illegal drugs operatives seized a total of 6.97 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of around P45,325.

In Candelaria town, police arrested, Jeremiah Fabillar Villacorta, 22, in a buy-bust in Barangay (village) Masalukot around 2:30 p.m. Villacorta, alias Jay-Jay, is included in the latest police watch list. Seized from him were 5.75 grams of shabu, police said.

Also seized from Villacorta were an unlicensed Smith and Wesson caliber.22 magnum revolver with defaced serial numbers and three bullets.

According to police, drug syndicates are supplying guns to some of their pushers for protection aside from giving them free shabu for personal use as incentives.

Candelaria police also nabbed Medel Alinea Macatangay, 34, in another operation in Barangay Masin Norte. Seized from him were five plastic sachets containing suspected shabu with a combined weight of 0.73 grams.

Meanwhile in Sariaya, operatives arrested Jake Salubayba, 25, in another buy-bust in Barangay Pili at around 4:50 p.m. The suspect yielded 0.37 grams of shabu.

Police on Sunday night also arrested Norven Malavega, 33, in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Sta. Maria in Calauag town. Seized from Malavega were two sachets of shabu weighing 0.12 grams.   /muf