Suspected shabu worth approximately P34 million was seized from a 51-year-old woman in Cebu City.

Maria Christine Abarquez was arrested by the authorities after five kilos of suspected shabu were found in her possession in Barangay Carreta.

The woman is from Barangay Cogon Pardo.

These two barangays, according to Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) 7 Spokesperson Leia Alcantara, are not yet part of 33 out of 80 barangays in Cebu City that have already been declared free from the proliferation of illegal drugs.

Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia witnessed the documentation of the pieces of evidence, both drug and non-drug items. 

“I think, that [illegal drug] is really the root cause of a lot of our criminality here in the City of Cebu. We have to take a stronger stance, more firm and bold action,” Garcia said as he emphasized that 95 percent of persons spending time in jail are involved in drug-related cases.