Police Seize More ‘Shabu’ in Anti-Illegal Drugs Operations

Dumaguete City (PNA) -– Anti-illegal drugs operatives arrested a suspected pusher and seized more suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” during a police operation Monday at a low-cost housing site in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Around 6:30 a.m., combined elements of the PIB- SOG of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Office, headed by Chief Insp. Benedick Poblete, in coordination with the PNP’s Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) local office and the Dumaguete City police, arrested one Darwin Bungcasan Cabatingan, 41, married, and a resident of the Cadawinonan Housing Project in Barangay Cadawinonan.

Cabatingan was arrested after the team seized during a search at his residence two pieces of transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu, one piece tooter, two lighters, a pair of scissors and “cash proceeds” amounting to P90,900.

Also confiscated during the search was a Caliber 9-mm Black Widow pistol loaded with four live ammunition, Chief Insp. Poblete said.

According to Poblete, the team effected a search warrant issued on October 2 by Negros Oriental Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Geradro Paguio, Jr.

The seized “shabu” weighed about 4.5 grams and had a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P47,200.00.

The suspect is now detained at the Dumaguete police station as police ready the filing of charges against him in violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act as amended.

Law enforcers in Negros Oriental continue without let-up the campaign against illegal drugs, following the seizure of large quantities of “shabu” believed to have originated from Metro Manila and shipped via courier service.

For the month of September, some P7.2 million worth of “shabu” were confiscated in various anti-illegal drugs operations. (PNA) LAP/JFP