Zambo cops nab security guard, 2 others in drug busts

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A security guard tagged as "high-value target" (HVT) and two other drug personalities were arrested in separate law enforcement operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Cebu, an official said Wednesday.

Maj. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer, identified the alleged HVT as Bocary Tan Macapato Jr., 23, listed by the police as "top 1 priority target" in the town of Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte.

Galvez said Macapato was arrested by a team of policemen through a warrant of arrest around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Tower 1, Mactan Newtown, Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.

Galvez said Macapato has a standing warrant of arrest for four counts of transacting in illegal drugs with no recommended bail issued in February this year by a regional court in Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte.

Galvez identified the two other arrested suspects as Julius Galleposo, 18, and Diode Bachoco, 36, a construction worker.

Galleposo was arrested in possession of some PHP20,400 worth of suspected shabu packed in 11 heat-sealed plastic sachets and PHP200 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 8:50 p.m. Tuesday in Purok Taki, Barangay Linabo, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, police said.

Bachoco, meanwhile, was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in Top Mars Subdivision, Phase 4, Purok Orchids, Barangay Pangi, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Galvez said Bachoco yielded some PHP2,500 worth of suspected shabu packed in five heat-sealed plastic sachets and P500 marked money.

She said Macapato was transported to Dipolog City from Lapu-Lapu City while Galleposo and Bachoco were detained pending the filing of formal charges. (PNA)