ABUCAY, Bataan — Police operatives arrested four individuals and confiscated suspected shabu in seven sachets weighing 202.4 grams with standard drug price of P1,376,320 in an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Mabatang here at dawn Saturday.
Major Jonathan Mostoles, Abucay police chief, led the operation after conducting case build-up, validation, surveillance as early as the first week of April upon receiving information that a drug personality was going to bring in a large amount of shabu in the municipality.
He reported to Bataan police director Col. Palmer Tria that they have prepared possible entrapment operations that at first failed until it paid off and resulted in the arrest of three of four of their primary targets.
“Ang primary target namin kanina sa drug operation is apat talaga, apat na tao kaya lamang during the actual sale ‘yong main target namin na isa hindi siya nag-show up so tatlo lang sa main target namin ang nag-show up. Ang ika-apat na naaresto namin kaninang suspect is nagkataon lang na during the scene sumabay siya, bumili din siya ng droga kaya naisama siya sa pagkakaaresto kanina,” Mostoles explained.
The police chief said the suspects were not originally from Abucay but only utilizing some drug personalities from the town as conduit.
“Malaki ang impact nitong pagkakakumpiska natin. Sabihin na lamang na kung ang ganitong volume na droga ay nagkalat sa ating bayan, maraming mabibiktimang tao,” Mostoles said.
He appealed to those in the illegal drug trade to stop and change their ways. “Walang magandang idudulot itong illegal na droga sa kanila. Ang kasasadlakan lamang nila dito ay kulungan at pagkawasak ng pamilya. Dini-discourage natin sila dito sa bayan ng Abucay na maglaro ng droga dahil hindi natin sila lulubayan.”
Mostoles said that the community has a big role in the eradication of illegal drugs. He encouraged villagers to help the police in the drive against it.
Joining the Abucay municipal police station in the anti-illegal drug operation were operatives of the provincial police intelligence and drug enforcement units in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The suspects will be charged for violations of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act).
Colonel Tria said that the big amount of illegal drugs confiscated showed the unwavering commitment of the Bataan police to combat illegal drugs. “The police force will continue to be relentless in our efforts to eradicate drug trafficking in Bataan.”
