Republic of the Office of the President PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY NIA Northside Road, National Government Center Pinyahan, City

PRESS RELEASE # 528/15 DATE : November 17, 2015 AUTHORITY : UNDERSECRETARY ARTURO G. CACDAC, JR., CESE Director General For more information, text or call: Mr. Glenn J. Malapad, OIC, Public Information Office Tel. No. 929-3244, 927-9702 Loc.131; Cell phone: 09274560042 ______

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, 2 OTHERS BUSTED IN CITY

A government employee and two other drug personalities were arrested by combined anti-narcotics operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) during a buy-bust operation in Dipolog City on November 12, 2015.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr., identified the suspects as Zuriel Baes y Seares, 24 years old, single, an encoder of PhilHealth Dipolog City, and a resident of Turno, Dipolog City; Medelyn Neff y Lisondra, alias Madelyn/Madam, 34, married, of 74 Mabini, Barra, Dipolog City; and Zoram Saldariega y Acas, alias Juram, 41, and a resident of Sampaguita, Galas, Dipolog City.

At around 12:00 noon, elements of PDEA Regional Office 9 under Director Joseph C. Ladip and Dipolog City Police Station conducted a buy-bust operation at the vicinity of Purok Sampaguita, Bayang Galas, Dipolog City, del Norte against Baes, Neff and Saldariega after they agreed to sell one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur-buyer. A certain Joel Elia eluded arrest after sensing the presence of the arresting team.

Operatives were able to recover one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu, 54 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance of shabu, one flash light box container, one cylindrical shaped plastic inhaler, one black tactical bag containing identification card of Zuriel Baes, 26 pieces of ammunition for caliber 22, one caliber 22 home-made rifle, and one Honda XRM motorcycle bearing plate number JA53712 and the buy- bust money.

The total weight of seized drugs is 52 grams with an estimated value of P182,000.00.

Baes, Neff and Saldariega will be charged for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while Baes will face additional charges for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act).

On November 11, 2015, at around 11:00 am, the same law enforcement unit and Provincial Intelligence Branch- Provincial Police Office conducted a buy-bust operation at the vicinity of Purok San Francisco, Brgy. Buenavista, City, Zamboanga del Sur which resulted in the arrest of a couple, Olimpio Ignario y Nacilla, alias Amay, 29, a drug den maintainer; and Maria Liza Ignario y Fiel, alias Ching-Ching, 27, a contractual worker of Pagadian City General Service Office. Both are residents of Purok San Francisco, Buenavista, Pagadian City.

The Ignarios were arrested when they agreed to sell one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur-buyer. The operation also resulted in the discovery of the suspects’ residence doubling as a drug den.

Also arrested during the operation were drug den visitors identified as Eduardo Villegas Jr. y Dupio, alias Jun-Jun, 25; Jee-em Villegas Jr. y Dupio, alias Dodong Tiyong, 21, residents of Purok San Francisco, Buenavista, Pagadian City; and Rodel Mansueto y Divinagracia, alias Serafin, 27. They were caught in the act of having a pot session inside the drug den.

Confiscated during the operation were 15 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of shabu, one plastic cellophane with shabu residues, one pack of rolled aluminum foil, one plastic container, two aluminum foils, several empty plastic sachets, one improvised water-pipe, two improvised tooters, two disposable lighters with needle, one plastic sealer, one pair of scissors, one cellular phone, four pieces of ammunition for caliber 22 revolver, one holster and the buy-bust money.

The Ignarios will be charged for violation of Sections 5, 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and 12 (Possession of Equipment and Other Drug Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165. An additional charged for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act) will be filed against them.

The Villegas brothers and Mansueto will be charged for violation of Sections 7 (Visitors of a Drug Den) and 12, Article II of RA 9165.

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