By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Police arrested five people and seized 173 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP1,176,400 in a series of buy-bust operations here on Thursday.
The bulk of the illegal drugs, totaling 160 grams and valued at PHP1,088,000, was confiscated from two men in Purok Sigay, Barangay 2.
Police Maj. Eugene Tolentino, chief of Police Station 2, said the suspects, identified only as “Joshua,” 27, of Barangay 2, and his alleged runner “Jobel,” 32, of Barangay Singcang-Airport, conspired to sell illegal drugs during the operation.
Tolentino said Joshua was previously involved in a shooting incident in Barangay Banago that injured a woman.
He was also reportedly linked to a theft case, but the victims declined to pursue charges.
Police also recovered a .45-caliber firearm from Joshua, who will face additional charges for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban.
Tolentino said the firearm will undergo ballistic testing and cross-matching to determine if it was used in other crimes in the city.
He said the suspected shabu was allegedly sourced from Luzon and repacked in Bacolod for distribution.
Both suspects are classified as high-value individuals.
In a separate operation in Barangay Vista Alegre, two men, aged 27 and 42, were arrested by Police Station 5 and the City Drug Enforcement Unit, with seven grams of suspected shabu worth PHP47,600.
In Barangay Villamonte, a 44-year-old man was arrested by Police Station 4 personnel after allegedly yielding six grams of suspected shabu worth PHP40,800.
Bacolod police said the operations are part of their continuing efforts to rid the city of illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms.
