The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested a couple considered as high-value targets in an operation in Barangay Bata here on yesterday morning.
The suspects identified as Randy and Duckin Hamantoc were cornered at their residence in Goldcrest Subdivision by operatives led by Nicolas Gomez, provincial officer of PDEA-Negros Occidental and Bacolod City; and Intelligence Agent Jay-r Espares of the Special Enforcement Team.
Around 7:30 a.m., the team arrived at the Hamantoc residence and after a search, recovered about 120 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 816,000.
The couple, detained at the PDEA provincial office in this city, will be charged for violation of Article 2, Section 11 (possession of dangerous) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
According to information from PDEA, Randy is the son of Rhodora Hamantoc who was among the five arrested by PDEA agents in a search operation in neighboring Talisay City on July 25 that led to the recovery of some PHP5.4 million worth of shabu.
The Hamantocs are believed to be previous residents of Purok Kagaykay, Barangay 2, a village in Bacolod City known for the presence of several drug personalities.
Last week, PDEA agents seized PHP748,000 worth of shabu from two suspects in separate buy-bust operations in this city.
On August 27, Raniel Rivera was arrested in Barangay Bata while, a day before, Carlo Boncalon was caught in Barangay 10.
Rivera and Boncalon each yielded about 55 grams of the prohibited substance amounting to PHP 374,000. (Nanette Guadalquiver PNA via NDB)