by JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, MDNN Digital
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In an effort to curb the drug menace in Northern Mindanao, the Philippine Drug and Enforcement Agency (PDEA-10) has successfully busted a total of P26-M worth of illegal drugs Saturday in Iligan City.
The announcement was made by PDEA-10 Regional Director Jigger Montallana during a press conference held at PDEA-10 headquarters in Cagayan de Oro.
Montallana presented to the media a certain Arnel Asuncion, a resident of Poblacion, Davao Oriental. The suspect, according to the PDEA chief, yielded a total of P26-Million of illegal drugs known as “shabu.”
Montallana told the media that Asuncion was driving a blue Navarra pick-up with plate no. GAC-3351 when operatives flagged him in Purok 32, Barangay Maria Christina, Iligan City.
Montallana said that before the arrest of the suspect, PDEA operatives conducted a buy-bust operation and successfully seized two pieces of big plastic sachets weighing one kilo.
PDEA’s planted poseur buyer handed the suspect a total of P500,000 cash as their supposed downpayment to the transaction which turned out to be a buy-bust.
Operatives have also found illegal drugs weighing 4,000 grams of shabu at the possession of the suspect, it was learned.
The raiding team also recovered a P1,000 bill placed on top of the buy-bust money, identification card, a sling bag and mobile phone reportedly owned by the suspect.
Initial investigation disclosed that the suspect, Arnel Asuncion, who is based in Davao City, has been the subject of surveillance for two months now prior to his arrest.
The joint operation was also supported by 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Iligan City police, PDEA-10 Regional Special Enforcement Team, PDEA Misamis Oriental, and PDEA Iligan-Lanao del Norte (with PNA report)
