By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez has directed Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), to enforce strict surveillance on the entry of individuals or visitors as the city prepares for the upcoming MassKara Festival in October.
In a recent media interview, Benitez acknowledged that illegal drugs are still entering the city, with those involved becoming more aggressive, particularly with the expected influx of people for the festival.
He also noted that robbers might exploit this opportunity to commit offenses, but assured that the BCPO will be prepared.
Benitez praised the recent successes in the city’s anti-drug operations and urged the police to maintain their vigilance.
“The apprehension of drug-related cases has increased,” he said.
On Tuesday night, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-6 seized approximately six kilos of suspected shabu worth P41,344,000 from a 28-year-old man during a buy-bust operation in Purok Malipayon, Barangay 35.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Tol,” is from the said village.
Police Captain Glenn Soliman, officer-in-charge of RPDEU-6, revealed that the suspect had previously been jailed for robbery but was released two years ago after the case was dismissed.
Soliman said the suspect allegedly began engaging in the illegal drug trade after meeting a drug personality while in jail. He initially started small but eventually gained the trust of this personality, becoming a keeper of illegal drugs.
The suspect was not on any drug watchlist, but authorities received information about his involvement in illegal drugs about a month ago.
This led to more than two weeks of casing and surveillance to confirm the reports, Soliman added.
During the operation, the suspect allegedly sold shabu to a police agent for P60,000.
Authorities recovered 6,080 grams of suspected shabu, P16,300 in cash, a digital weighing scale, a cellphone, and other non-drug items.
Soliman noted that the suspect was considered a high-value individual due to the large quantity of drugs seized, which he described as the largest drug bust in Western Visayas this year.
The suspect claimed he was only meeting someone to pick up the illegal drugs, believed to have been sourced from Luzon.
As a keeper or “bodegero,” the suspect typically handled varying quantities of illegal drugs depending on the demand from clients in Bacolod City, other parts of Negros Occidental, and Iloilo.
Further investigation will be conducted to determine if the suspect has links to a larger drug syndicate, Soliman said.
Meanwhile, the suspect’s 52-year-old father and 36-year-old brother, who is a barangay watchman or “tanod,” were also arrested for obstruction of justice after they reportedly interfered with the operation.
Soliman stated that one of them attempted to grab a police operative’s firearm, leading to a brief struggle before reinforcements subdued them.
The police were allegedly mobbed by the suspect’s family, but they managed to control the situation with the help of other enforcement units.
The suspect’s father and brother were charged with obstruction of justice, which is a bailable offense.
Authorities are preparing to file drug charges against the suspect, who is currently detained at Police Station 1.
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 praised the successful operation, which was conducted in coordination with the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), City Intelligence Unit (CIU), and Police Station 1.
“This accomplishment is a product of the dedication and perseverance of our operatives in the campaign against illegal drugs,” PRO-6 said in a statement.
Despite the significant seizure, PRO-6 vowed to intensify efforts to apprehend those involved in the illegal drug trade.
Over the weekend, police also seized P3.7 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested five people in separate drug busts in Barangays Tangub and Singcang-Airport.
Upon assuming his position last month, Coronica emphasized that his priority would be relentless operations against illegal drugs, as he believes many crimes are linked to drug use.
He also mentioned the need to strengthen the campaign against illegal drugs since Bacolod City is considered a “transshipment point” due to its multiple entry and exit points.
In Negros Occidental, a 43-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday after 17 grams of suspected shabu worth P115,600 were confiscated in a drug bust in Barangay 6, San Carlos City.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Negros Occidental arrested the suspect, known by the alias “Ronald,” who is a regional target-listed drug personality.
