P145.5 million in shabu seized in largest Zamboanga Peninsula buy-bust

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seized P145.5 million in alleged shabu in a Zamboanga Peninsula drug bust - the largest ever buy-bust operation in the region.

According to GMA Regional TV One Mindanao Krissa Dapitan's Friday 24 Oras report, the PDEA arrested four suspects, captured 21.4 kilos of alleged shabu, and seized a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition during the Thursday night operation in Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City.

Among the arrested suspects was a Tictabon Island public school teacher.

However, the teacher denied any involvement in illegal drugs.

“Nadamay lang ako kasi magkatabi 'yung boarding house namin," explained the teacher. "Sa isang apartment, dalawa 'yung kwarto. Sa kabila 'yung room ko, sa kabila room nila. Actually noong hinuli ako, naka-uniform pa ako. Nanindigan ako na wala akong kinalaman sa kanila.”

(I was mistakenly implicated because I lived next door in the boarding house. The apartment has two rooms. My room was next to that of the suspects. I was actually in my uniform when they arrested me. Let me emphasize that I have nothing to do with the suspects.)

Meanwhile, the three other suspects, whom the PDEA classified as high-value targets, refused to be interviewed.

The PDEA believed that the alleged drugs came from Sulu province.

"We align with the marching order of [President Ferdinand "Bongbong] Marcos Jr.]," said PDEA-9 Regional Director Director III Maharani Gadaoni-Tosoc. "Ang utos niya sa PDEA is to go after the sources of illegal drugs. 'Yun po muna ang priority natin. Malaki ang role ng barangay natin, kaya nga pinipilit natin ang barangay drug clearing program."

GMA Integrated News has sought comment from the Education Department on the arrest of one of their teachers.

Davao City buy-bust

Police seized 800 grams of alleged shabu during a Friday morning buy-bust operation in Davao City's Barangay 9-A.

Arrested during the operation was a suspect known by the alias "Dodong," whom authorities classified as a high-value target.

Police valued the seized drugs at around P5.5 million.

"Hindi 'yon akin. Sa akin lang iniwan," said Dodong. "Tapos kukunin din nila 'yan sa akin."

(It isn't mine. They just left it with me. They would retrieve it later."

Dodong, however, admitted that he knew what he was doing was illegal.

“Ang kanyang mga parokyano, malaman natin dito sa cellphone niya na narekober natin sa kanya," said San Pedro police station chief Police Major Michael Uyanguren. "Ang kanilang transaksyon [ay sa] messenger. So, gumagamit sila ng dummy account, makikita natin ang kanilang transaksyon."

(We can find out who his customers are through his phone, which we recovered. They made deals through a messaging app. They use dummy accounts. We can see their transactions.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News