PDEA nabs shabu dealers; gets P200,000 illegal drugs

By Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement- Agency Cordillera recently arrested    five drug dealers and confiscated over P200,000 worth of shabu and  drug paraphernalia.

PDEA operatives in coordination with the Aringay, La Union police recently arrested a couple in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Samara in the town.

The couple was identified as Jongie B. Abanes, a Baguio native and  his live-in partner Rizalyn Dagdag Oribello, 27 of Tubao, La Union.

Also arrested was Rizalyn’s brother Rizaldy.

Confiscated from the group were 25 grams of shabu valued at P217,500, the largest amount of illegal drugs confiscated by PDEA-Cordillera in a single buy-bust in the last two years. 

An Armscor Cal. 38 revolver with five bullets, and various paraphernalia for packaging and use of the prohibited drug were also seized from the trio.

The three will be charged in court for illegal; drugs.

On March 26, PDEA agents in a sting operation also arrested Mary Jane Espiritu Fernandez, 26, of   Baguio City, an alleged shabu dealer and her live-in partner, Orlando A. Cortez alias “Lando” of Lower Rock Quarry in Baguio.

The couple was arrested while selling approximately two grams of shabu with an estimated market value of P17,400 to a PDEA agent posing as buyer at the sari-sari store being managed by the Fernandez at her boarding house.

Other drug paraphernalia were also seized from the house which the suspects reportedly utilized to repackage and sell dangerous drugs.