Five reported drug dealers were arrested by combined operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police in a series of anti-illegal drug operations in the regions.

In a report submitted to Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA director general, combined elements of the agency’s regional office under OIC Intelligence Agent 5 Melvin Estoque, Vigan police station and Ilocos Sur provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (Paidsotg) implemented a search warrant in Brgy. Rugsuanan, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur province at about 3 p.m. on January 9.

Melvin Figuerres, 37, was arrested after being caught in possession of two plastic sachets of dried marijuana leaves inside his residence, which was the subject of the search warrant.

Figuerres is now facing charges for violation of Section 11, Article 2 of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (possession of dangerous drugs).

On the same day, elements of agency’s regional office under Director Ronnie Delicana conducted an entrapment operation in Purok King Fisher, Brgy. 16, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental province.

Gerald Dolosa, alias Jojo Tibor and Rano Apurong, both residents of the said barangay, were arrested after selling a plastic sachet of shabu to a PDEA poseur-buyer.

Dolosa and Apurong will face charges for violation the law.

Meanwhile, in Davao del Sur province, combined elements of the regional office of the drug enforcing body under Director Emerson Rosales, Davao del Sur anti-illegal drug task force, police intelligence branch and Digos City police, conducted an entrapment operation in Chapter 11, Brgy. Aplaya, Digos City, Davao del Sur.

The operation resulted in the arrest of Basikbobot Toto, a 37-year-old farmer, and Alejandro Omagak, 46, a resident of Brgy. Cogon, Bacaca, Davao del Sur.

Operatives seized from the suspects a plastic sachet containing P1,500 worth of shabu.

Appropriate cases for violation of the anti-illegal drug law are now being prepared for filing in court against the suspects.