More drugs seized, suspects nabbed in police anti-drug drives in Bacolod

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Station 7 arrested two drug personalities in a buy-bust in Barangay Alijis on Wednesday night.

The suspects were identified as Joel Alma, 33, a street-level individual who was the subject of the operation; and companion Matts Ericson Pastrana, 30.

Based on a police report, Alma has been staying in Purok Rojas, Barangay Tangub in the city, but it was also indicated that both are residents of Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

Capt. Elmer Bonilla, chief of Police Station 7, said in a radio interview that they have been monitoring the activities of the suspects in the city for some time now, adding that they are also on the drugs watchlist of Victorias City Police Station.

At 7:10 p.m., Alma was caught red-handed selling a sachet of shabu worth P1,000 to an undercover policeman along Alijis Road.

Operatives also seized from the suspects’ possession seven plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 40 grams valued at PHP272,000, along with PHP450 cash and a red Euro motorcycle.

Charges for violation of various provisions of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being readied against the suspects.* (Nanette Guadalquiver, PNA)