P423,500 in illegal drugs seized

Police arrested a 28-year-old man in a buy-bust operation that yielded P320,000 worth of suspected shabu in Barangay 2, Bacolod City Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Three persons, including two alleged notorious robbers, were arrested by police in separate buy-bust operations that yielded P423,500 worth of suspected shabu and suspected marijuana here last Saturday.

The biggest operation was conducted at Purok Kagaykay, Barangay 2, where 28-year-old Jerish Christian Panao of the said village, was arrested for the confiscation of 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P320,000, and the P500 marked money.

Police Colonel Noel Aliño, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the suspect was previously arrested for a drug offense and was later released through plea bargaining.

“Pinadaan ito sa masusing intelligence and casing surveillance para maaresto siya,” he added.

The suspect, who is an alleged high value individual, is detained at Police Station 2.

Meanwhile, two alleged notorious robbers were also arrested at Purok Tultugan, Barangay Mandalagan, following the seizure of 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000, and 10 grams of suspected marijuana worth P1,500.

Police identified the suspects as Ken Ryu Barrientos, 20, and Martin John Beatingo, 33, both residents of Barangay Villamonte.

Both are street level individuals, according to the police.

Police also recovered from them two .38 caliber revolver with four live ammunition.

Captain Francis Depasucat, head of Police Station 4, said that Barrientos was previously arrested for a drug offense and was allegedly involved in robbery and hold-up incidents here.

Depasucat said that Beatingo was also allegedly involved in illegal drugs and robbery hold-up here.

Both suspects had pending cases for robbery, while Beatingo has a pending case for frustrated murder.

Beatingo was tagged in a shooting incident at Purok Sabes, Barangay Villamonte last month, according to Depasucat.