Albay anti-drug ops: 6 arrested, P1.75M worth of ‘shabu’ seized

LEGAZPI CITY – Anti-narcotics operatives arrested on Friday six alleged illegal drug pushers, and seized from them 300 grams of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P1.75 million during a hotel raid in Daraga, Albay, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Bicol said.

PDEA regional director Christian Frivaldo said that following anti-illegal drugs surveillance, combined PDEA, Philippine National Police (PNP), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives swooped down two rented rooms at the NeuHaus Hotel in Barangay (village) Maroroy after midnight Friday, and collared the suspects.

Authorities said the first group of suspects arrested were Guinobatan resident Marlon “Bok” Fernandez, 40, a regional high-value target; Lorraine Santiago, 28, of Antipolo City; and Elmer Cunthada, 37, also from Antipolo City.

The second group of suspects, authorities said, were Josam “Third” Tabuena Jr., 55 and of Daraga; Jan Mark “Matik” Rapisura, 32, of Guinobatan; and Jomel Dela Cruz, 21, of Ligao City.

Operatives reportedly seized from the first group of suspects some 250 grams of shabu valued at P1.5 million; while the second group of suspects allegedly yielded 50 grams of shabu worth P250,000.

According to Frivaldo, the suspects are now detained at PDEA’s detention facility, pending the filing of drug charges against them.  /kga