By: Romeo Braceros Jr.

Photo: Cebu City Police Office

After a buy-bust operation carried out by the operatives of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on Tuesday dawn (November 22, 2022), two accused high-value drug suspects were found to have about P12 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).

Alexander Luy Ponce, also known as Kevin, 31, a resident of Barangay Poblacion Pardo, and Jessie Sabejon Abadiano, 31, a resident of Sitio San Vicente, Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City, were named as the suspects.

According to Police Major Remon Jake Aguho, the two were arrested at 4:52 a.m. for engaging in criminal activities on Tuesday in Sitio Paula Maria, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.

The operation was conducted in close cooperation between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the CCPO (PDEA-7).

According to Aguho, they were able to identify Ponce and Abadiano's illicit conduct thanks to various tips and information from community members and the security partners of the CCPO, including the PDEA.

The two could get rid of up to a kilo of shabu in less than a month, according to Aguho. 

Meeting up is how they transact drugs, especially in Bulacao, Pardo, and Inayawan.

He added that during their first investigation, they discovered another drug suspect named "Alyas Paye," who has been held at the Cebu City Jail (CCJ) in Barangay Kalunasan since May 2020, was one of the two drug suspects.

According to Aguho, they plan to work with the CCJ to find out if "Paye's" downline included any further drug suspects still at large.

Shabu, which has a street value of P12,274,000 and a total weight of 1.805 kg, was found during the operation.

Ponce and Abadiano will both be charged with violating Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, often known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.