AN ESTIMATED P285,600 worth of suspected shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride was seized in separate drug bust operations in Bacolod City and Calatrava town, Negros Occidental Thursday, October 28, 2021.

The operations were conducted by operatives of Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG)-Western Visayas, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Western Visayas, and Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

The operations also led to the arrest of John Bini, of Calatrava. Richard Hofelina, 36, of Purok Bulak in Barangay Mandalagan and Kerlyn De Asis, 25, of Lopez Jaena inBarangay 2, Bacolod.

Hofelina and De Asis were arrested by operatives of PDEG-Western Visayas and Police Station 7 after one of them sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer at Hermilinda Homes, Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City around 8 p.m.

Seven plastic sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P238,000, the P1,000 marked money, P12,000 boodle money, a cellular phone, and a motorcycle were recovered from them following their arrest, the police said.

Earlier Thursday, Bini was also arrested by operatives of PDEA-Western Visayas in Barangay Looc, Calatrava past 2 p.m.

Recovered from Bini’s possession were several sachets of shabu with an estimated market value of P47,600 and the marked money.

The suspects were detained at the custodial facility of Police Station 7 and Calatrava Municipal Police Station.

Police said they are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.