Six persons were arrested inside a drug den during a buy-bust conducted by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Negros Occidental Provincial Office (PDEA-NOCPO) in Barangay Bata here over the weekend.
Arrested were Ruben Sause, Raniel Pecardal, Jhonrey Yanson, Jhon Jhon Batusin, Yul Esparagoza, and Analyn Batusin, all residents of the village’s Purok Pag-isa.
They yielded about 15 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP102,000.
The suspects are facing charges for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs), Section 6 (maintenance of a den), Section 7 (visitors of a den), Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Section 12 (possession of equipment or paraphernalia), and Section 15 (use of dangerous drugs) of Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
On Thursday afternoon, suspect Marc Sotto was also arrested in a buy-bust in Purok Langis, Barangay Banago by agents of the PDEA-Western Visayas Special Enforcement Unit.
Operatives seized from the suspect 5 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP34,000.
Sotto is also facing charges for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of Article II, RA 9165. (Nanette Guadalquiver)