More than P20 million worth of illegal drugs were seized during a buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of a couple identified as high-value individuals in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City, on Friday night, Nov. 29, 2024.
The suspects, identified as Joanna Batongbakal Gallado, alias “Ay-Ay,” 34, the target of the operation and listed on the Cebu City Police Office’s (CCPO) drug watchlist, and her partner, Raymund Tuñacao Jorge, alias “Bagmon,” 33, are both residents of Sitio Back Blessed, Barangay Tejero.
Under surveillance
The couple yielded 3,020 grams of suspected shabu with a standard value of P20,536,000, packed in a red backpack.
Maj. John Lynbert Yango, chief of Waterfront Police Station 3, said Gallado had been under surveillance for over a month after her name surfaced as the supplier of illegal drugs to previously apprehended individuals.
According to police intelligence, the couple served as the receiving point for illegal drug supplies from Mindanao, distributing the illegal substances to their network of drug personalities.
Their area of operation reportedly covers the three major cities of Cebu, including neighboring towns.
“Hagbonganan ni sila diring dapita sa ilang source. Sila ang matawag nga bodegera nya kining iyang live-in partner nga lalaki siya maoy tig-dispose tighatod sa ilang mga downline. Dako ni silag area,” said Yango.
(They are the receiving agents in this area. She [Gallado] serves as the storage handler, while her live-in partner is responsible for delivering the drugs to their downlines. They have a wide distribution network.)
Source identified
Authorities have already identified the source of the illegal drugs, believed to be the employer of the suspects from Mindanao.
Yango said he is confident that they will eventually apprehend the supplier, especially with the cooperation of the arrested individuals.
Col. Antonietto Cañete, chief of the CCPO, supervised the buy-bust operation and commended the Waterfront Police Station team for their successful operation.
He said further details about the information provided by the suspects could not yet be made public as they are still conducting follow-up investigations.
“Di pa namo ma-divulge no kay we are still conducting follow-up investigation, pero naa silay gitug-an,” said Cañete.
(We cannot disclose the details yet as we are still validating their statements, but they gave important information.) / AYB
