Halsema shabu suppliers nabbed

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Three elusive shabu distributors, to include a member of a prominent political family and a former marine engineer, were cornered by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Cordillera around 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 19, in a buy-bust operation.

Christopher W. Galuten, Carlito Esyaben Jr. and Jonifredo Bekesan were nabbed at Pico, Km. 4, here after resisting arrest. 

Emely Cayandag Fama, regional PDEA information officer said Galuten’s group was allegedly responsible in distributing shabu to street pushers in three towns along the Halsema Highway namely, Buguias, La Trinidad and Mankayan, all of Benguet.

The reportedly usually rented a car and utilizing such as service vehicle in illegal drug dealings to mislead law enforcers. 

A white Toyota Grandia van, which the trio used for the entrapment deal was seized, among other evidence against them.

A PDEA press statement said Galuten, 37, was a resident of ofCada, Balili, Mankayan, while Esyaben Jr. 38, was from Upper Tabio, Balili, Mankayan. Bekesan, 23, was a college graduate in Marine Engineering, farmer, was also resident of Balili.

Confiscated from the trio three sachets of shabu weighing 0.16 gram, valued at P4,000. 

The three suspects were charged before the provincial prosecutor’s office for illegal drugs. 

In another incident, a   porter at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post and his "supplier" were arrested here in a drug bust last week.

Alfredo Limos alias “Isaac”, 35 from Ninoy, Aguilar town, Pangasinan; and DemerCapulong alias “Bal”, 23, single, porter and native of Tibag, Tarlac City and resident of Km. 5 here were arrested with P16,000.00 worth of shabu, packed in two plastic sachets.

The shabu weighed .65 gram.

Emily Fama, PDEA-Cordillera spokesperson, said the duo sold the shabu to an undercover agent in a graveyard bust conducted  Oct. 20.

Fama said that Limos travels to the Cordillera region from time to time to deliver shabu to Capulong.

A gray-colored Hyundai Starex van, which the duo used for the deal was seized by the PDEA operatives.

Drug charges have been filed against the two suspects.