Police nabbed 3 suspected drug pushers

By JONNIE H. BUENAVENTURA (PIA 8)
August 7, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The joint elements of Leyte Police Provincial Office Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (LPPO-PAIDSOTG) and Tacloban City Police Station Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (TC-PSAIDSOTG) led by Police Insp. Jesus N. Son, chief PAIDSOTG nabbed a notorious drug syndicate in a buy-bust operation on August 4, 2007 at around 9:50 in the evening at Brgy. 37-A Palanog, Tacloban City, that resulted to the arrest of the following persons: Ernesto Quinante y Raagas-leader, 41 yrs. old, single, Filipino; Alberto Salvedia y Almerante-member, 20 yrs. old, single, Filipino, student; both residents of Brgy. 37-A, Palanog, Tacloban City and Bernard Torres y Arpon-member, 24 years old, single, Filipino, jobless, resident of Brgy. 74, Nula-Tula, Tacloban City.

During the buy-bust operation, the policemen acted as buyer from Ernesto Quinante y Raagas alyas “Bolongoy” and Alberto Salvedia y Almerante. Recovered was one small pack of suspected marijuana more or less .0625 grams with an estimated street value of P800.00. Subsequently recovered from Alberto Salvedia alyas “Ambit” were another one big pack and one medium pack suspected marijuana more or less and .75 grams with an estimated street value of P10,000.00, while recovered from Bernard Torres y Arpon, was another one medium pack of suspected marijuana more or less .1875 grams with an estimated street value of P4,000.00 with a total of more or less one kilo of suspected marijuana was recovered from the suspects.

According to P/S Supt. Doroteo N. Palconit, Provincial Director, Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) during a Press Conference held at LPPO, apprehended organized drug syndicate is among the notorious drug groups, responsible for the distribution of marijuana in the different schools in Tacloban City, including nearby municipalities.

P/S Supt. Palconit further revealed, that a month long surveillance was conducted by the operatives of Leyte Police Provincial Office-Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (LPPO-PAIDSOTG) that resulted to the successful arrest of the suspects. “This was the biggest haul of marijuana resolved, since I assumed office as Provincial Director, he said.”

The arrested suspects were turned over to the Tacloban City police for proper disposition. A case was filed in violation of R.A. 9165 better known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act., of 2002, P/S Supt. Palconit said.