BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Silay City police in Negros Occidental is tracing the origin of the P21.2-million worth of shabu seized in two separate operations over the weekend.
Police station commander Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca said the shabu seized in both operations was from Luzon; they are still determining the exact place of origin.
It has also been revealed that the suspect they arrested on Sunday night, 36-year-old Mark Villaran, was working for Dumdumaya sisters Angie and Angielyn who were arrested early Sunday morning with P13.6 million worth of shabu.
The sisters were the ones responsible for warehousing the shabu while Villaran served as courier, according to Villaran.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Judesses Catalogo, meanwhile, said with the large hauls in Silay City, they believe that the suspects have yet to establish buyers or distributors.
Catalogo said the reason why drug peddlers are unable to find buyers or distributors is due to the increased police presence and surveillance operations.
A second angle the police is also looking into is that illegal drug peddlers in the province are looking into cashing in on the festivals that are now being celebrated again in Negros Occidental after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bacolod City’s MassKara Festival is in October./PN