Police during separate anti-drug operations in Tagbilaran City arrested a high school student and a college student who were allegedly caught in possession of shabu with a total estimated worth of P1 million.

The alleged drug dealers were identified as James Maniwang, 18, and Carlo Galinato, 22, both residents of Tagbilaran City.

Maniwang was arrested after he allegedly sold shabu worth P3,500 to an undercover cop during a drug buy-bust operation led by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) near his residence in Barangay Booy at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Police said that they seized from Maniwang 128 grams of shabu which were estimated to be worth P870,000.

Maniwang was a newly identified drug suspect but was elevated to a high-value drug target after caught with the large amount of drugs.

Prior to Maniwang’s arrests, the same anti-narcotics police team apprehended Galinato in another buy-bust operation at Lindaville Subdivision Phase 1 at 7:30 a.m. on Friday which led to the confiscation of P176,800 worth of shabu.

However, the operation’s subject Marko Galinato, 26, was able to evade arrest, police said.

It was Marko who transacted with the poseur-buyer while Carlo received the marked buy-bust money.

Marko then slammed a steel gate in front of the undercover officer and fled after noticing that he was subjected to a staged drug transaction.

All three men including Marko who remained at large will be charged with violations against Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (RT)