2 drug suspects fall in Leyte, Samar

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
September 19, 2013

CAMP SEC. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Two drug suspects were arrested in separate drug sting operations by the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG8) and Catbalogan City Police Station Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, reports reaching the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) disclosed.

The suspects were identified by PCSupt. Elmer R. Soria, PRO8 director, as one Lorden Mangaron, 34, married, jobless and resident of Brgy. 3, Sta. Fe, Matalom town in Leyte; and one Randy Curiano, a former intelligence operative of the 34th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army and a resident of Brgy. Canlapwas in Catbalogan City.

Mangaron was nabbed after handing P500 worth of suspected “shabu” to an undercover cop who acted as poseur-buyer at around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday just outside his house, Soria said.

“A small heat-sealed sachet containing around 0.3 grams of suspected shabu granules was recovered during the buybust,” he added.

The RSOG, led by PSInsp, Dinvir Revita, immediately brought the suspect to Matalom police station as a case for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 was filed against Mangaron.

Recovered suspected illegal drugs were brought to the Southern Leyte Provincial Crime Laboratory Office in Maasin City for qualitative and quantitative examination and determination of the presence of methamphetamine contents.

Matalom is a coastal town some 150 kilometers, 2-hour ride from Tacloban City, Eastern Visayas regional capital. It popular among local and foreign tourists for the pristine white sand island of Canigao, also known for its scenic coral reefs ideal for diving.

Meanwhile, a police team led by PCInsp. Marben Ordonia conducted buybust operation at around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday in Brgy. Canlapwas leading to Curiano’s arrest and the confiscation of one small heat-sealed sachet of suspected “shabu” and the P500 buy-bust money.

Subsequent implementation of search warrant in the suspects house led to the confiscation of 7 more sachet of suspected “shabu” worth P7,700.00 and several drug paraphernalia that include lighters, tooters, scissors, plastic sachets, digital weighing scale and mobile phones.

A hand grenade, one magazine of .45 caliber with 7 ammunitions and several ammunitions for calibers 7.62mm, .38, 45 and .22 were also recovered by the police.

Suspect is currently detained at Catbalogan police station lock-up cell while proper charges are being prepared for filing in court against him.

Confiscated illegal drugs were brought to the Regional Crime Laboratory Office 8 for chemical analysis, the police official added.