3 men fall for possession of drug paraphernalia

Police have arrested three suspected members of a fraternity for reportedly possessing illegal drug paraphernalia inside a hut in barangay Duljo-Fatima the other night.

The suspects were identified as Rodolfo Sombilon, of the same barangay; Rustico Salazar Dimate, a resident of barangay Kinasang-an; and Cera Ong Siglos, a resident of sitio Mahayahay, barangay Quiot.

SPO1 Filomeno Mendaros, a member of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office conducting patrol in the area, received information over an ongoing drug session of youngsters inside the house of a certain "Gerome" in the interior portion of the barangay.

The police caught the suspects inside the house but they failed to arrest "Gerome" as he was nowhere to be found. Police also recovered used drug paraphernalia from the suspects' possession and a replica of a .22 caliber from Sombilon.

They also found a paddle with "Tau Gamma Phi" markings inside the hut. The suspects, however, denied being members of the group.

Meanwhile, at least 35 new policemen have arrived yesterday to beef up the city police force.

CCPO director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador told reporters that the arrival of the personnel from the Regional Mobile Group came after he had requested the deployment of more police operatives in the city's crime-prone areas.

On Monday, the CCPO would launch the seven-team night watch patrol composed of members of Service Security Group and the Operations Section. The team would be deployed starting at 9 o'clock in the evening. - Edwin Ian Melecio