PRO 7 Chief Says ‘Jaguar’ Cousin’s Arrest to Have Big Impact on Central Visayas ‘Shabu’ Supply

Chief Superintendent Noli Talino, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, said the arrest in Bicol of a cousin of the slain suspected big-time drug dealer Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz is expected to make a big impact on the “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) supply in Central Visayas.

Reynaldo “Jumbo” Diaz, 37, who allegedly took over Jaguar’s drug syndicate in Central Visayas, was arrested in Sorsogon, Bicol Region at dawn Sunday.

“His arrest will have a huge impact. We expect that there will be a big reduction in shabu supply,” Taliño said.

Police said the price of shabu has recently spiked by 30 percent and a single sachet now costs PHP300 to PHP400.

Talino said Jumbo Diaz was arrested in Bicol because he was hiding from PRO 7 operatives who were hot on his trail after they received intelligence reports that he took over the business of Jaguar Diaz.

But Talino did not rule out the possibility that Jumbo Diaz was fleeing from Jaguar’s alleged police protectors who want to prevent him from squealing.

Jaguar Diaz was killed during a shootout with the police in Las Piñas City last June.

Jumbo Diaz was No. 2 in the Top 10 High-Value Targets of the police in Central Visayas, next to Franz Sabalones, who surrendered first to the PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

“I hope that he (Jumbo Diaz) will give us information and that we can get more names,” Talino said. (PNA) LAP/EB/EBP