TALISAY CITY, CEBU — Four suspected drug pushers were killed while six others were arrested yesterday morning in separate buy-bust operations that resulted in the recovery more than P8 million worth of suspected shabu in this city.
At 3:55 a.m. yesterday, drug enforcement operatives of the Talisay City Police Station killed Rodel Nacario, 29; and Kevin Baguio who attempted fight them off during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Hawod, a known haven for illegal drugs, in Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City.
Supt. Marlu Conag, Talisay City Police chief, said Nacario was considered as a “high profile” drug pusher in the area and was previously connected with a local drug lord in the city.
Baguio was believed to have been hired by Nacario as a “hitman” and had been tasked to target police officers attempting to disrupt their operations, Conag added.
Recovered after the operation were a large pack and three small sachets of suspected shabu and two pistols owned by the two suspects.
The illegal drugs recovered had an estimated market value worth P204,000, Conag said.
Four hours later, operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) led by Senior Inspector Alejandro Batobalonos also killed two suspected drug pushers in Sitio Malngilamo, Barangay Jaclupan, in the same city.
Rodrigo Alvarez and his brother, Victor Noel, were killed after they attempted to fight off raiding PIB operatives at their den.
Five men involved in their operations were also arrested by police. They were identified as Wilfredo Narcico, 46, of Barangay Duljo-Fatima in Cebu City; Neilrinz Francisco, 26, of Barangay Sawang Calero in Cebu City; Kevin Daryl Vitor, 18, of Barangay Lawis in Inabanga, Bohol; Christopher Infiesto, 29, also of Barangay Lawis; Jackson Ogong, 35, a resident of Barangay Jaclupan in Talisay City; and Randel Añabiza, 27.
Recovered after the operation were packs of suspected shabu weighing 1.2 kilos with an estimated market value of P8.2 million; buy-bust money worth P12,000; P25,000 worth of illegal drug proceeds, two pistols and various drug repacking equipment.
In an interview, Batobalonos said Alvarez and his brother were originally from Barangay Duljo Fatima in Cebu City but transferred to Jaclupan three months ago to expand their illegal business.
To cover up their illegal schemes, the brothers reportedly established a piggery in Jaclupan.
The two reportedly got their illegal drug stock from a man identified as the right hand man of slain drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz.
Batobalonos said both brothers had been considered as high value drug targets.
Their operations eventually got caught after concerned citizens in the area noticed that more people from outside the village were coming in and out of their house. (Lesley Caminade-Vestil)
