Two suspects in the proliferation of illegal drugs were separately arrested by the Task Force 24 in Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros, recently.

The task force, composed of joint operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Dumaguete Police Office first apprehended Reynaldo Buagas, of Barangay Batinguel, Dumaguete in a buy-bust operation in his room at the Honeycomb Hotel in the city, while he was in the act of selling drugs.

Confiscated from him were nine sachets in different sizes containing suspected shabu, and P500 in marked money.

Miguel Dungog, an operative, said Buagas had been a subject of continued surveillance operation from Barangay Looc, Dumaguete where he had previously been arrested but was able to post bail.

Police said Buagas checked in at the Honeycomb on January 17 but he failed to pay for P5,900 in hotel bills.

Also collared by the Task Force 24 was Mitchel Ragay, 29, married who yielded four sachets of shabu and P5,220 in cash believed to be proceeds of the illegal trade, during a raid at his residence in Oracion Subdivision, in Barangay Looc.

The raiding team was armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Rosendo Bandal Jr.

Ragay admitted he has been selling illegal drugs lately to sustain the expenses for his child who is confined in a hospital. He said he was forced to enter the illegal activity because the drug supplier gave him the stuff. He, however, said that he doesn't even know the supplier personally.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police provincial director, Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, said he has ordered a no-let-up campaign against drug pushers, users and suppliers.

Chief Insp. Manuel Hidalgo, police chief of Dumaguete, stressed the need for public support to the police. He said he is happy that civilians are giving them information leading to the arrest of suspected drug peddlers in the city.*JG

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