Five people, including an Australian national, were arrested in separate buy-bust operations by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Cebu in March. Various amounts of shabu and drug paraphernalia were seized from them.
The first operation was on March 14 in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City, where Rhey Lalaine Basera, Andrew Cleos Estano, and Johannes Cabarrubias were arrested. P10,000 worth of shabu was seized from them. The main target, Felipe Sano Pateres, escaped, but authorities are still searching for him.
In a second operation on March 18, Tony Ristanovski, a 54-year-old Australian national living in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, was arrested. According to the NBI, his apartment was being used to sell illegal drugs. P2,000 worth of shabu and other drug paraphernalia were confiscated from him.
The last operation was on March 19 at Tintay Terminal, Talamban, Cebu City, where John Codiniera Bulat-ag, better known as "Taya," was arrested. P45,000 worth of shabu was seized from him.
All the arrested suspects were charged under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The NBI is also coordinating with the Australian embassy and immigration regarding Ristanovski's case.
