2 suspects nabbed, over P57K worth of illegal drugs, FA seized during Surigao Norte drug ops
BUTUAN CITY -- The aggressive campaign against illegal drugs of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-13 resulted in the successful arrest of two suspects and confiscation of Php57,500 worth of illegal drugs and a firearm during two separate buy-bust operations conducted in Surigao del Norte on February 16.
PRO-13 PBGen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said that the Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office Drug Enforcement Unit (SDN PPO-DEU), Bacuag Municipal Police Station, Surigao del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company (SDN PMFC) 2nd Company in coordination with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Surigao del Norte Provincial Office conducted a joint operation around 5:00PM in the national highway of Sitio Kugtong, Barangay Poblacion, Bacuag that resulted in the arrest of Jovynell Adlao Arguelles alias "Butats", 57 years old, male, married, and resident of Brgy. Estrella, Socorro, Surigao del Norte who is listed as high-value individual (HVI) in Surigao del Norte.
Items confiscated during the operation include two sachets of suspected shabu weighing 5.456 grams with a standard drug price (SDP) value of P37,100; one piece PhP1000 marked money; 16 pieces of PhP500 marked money; one black Samsung cellular phone; drug paraphernalia; and one unit of caliber 45 pistol inserted with one magazine loaded with seven live ammunition.
Based on the records, Arguelles was previously convicted for carnapping and violation of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and recently availed of a plea bargaining agreement.
He is now in the custody of SDNPPO-DEU. At the same time, charges for violation of Sections 5, 11 and 12 of Article 2 of RA 9165 and Republic Act 10591 with violation of Comelec Gun Ban are being prepared against him.
Another operation was conducted by the elements of Socorro MPS around 11:10PM at the DPWH Building, Barangay Sudlon, Socorro, that led to the arrest of Archie Merasol Dizon, 30 years old, and a resident of Barangay Rizal, Socorro.
Joint operatives confiscated two sachets of suspected shabu weighing 3 grams with an SDP value of Php 20,400; two pieces of PhP100 marked money; two pieces of PhP1000 marked money; one unit of red/black Vivo cellular phone; one piece of green lighter; and one small piece of aluminum foil.
Dizon is now in the custody of Socorro MPS and is awaiting charges against him.
“The arrest of these two suspects is a manifestation that PRO Caraga maximizes our efforts in ending this illegal drug trade in the region,” said PBGen. Caramat, Jr. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
