US citizen falls in drug raid

CEBU, Philippines - An American citizen, who is allegedly in the watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, was arrested early morning yesterday during a raid at the house he is temporarily staying in Sitio Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe.

Drug operatives conducted an operation against Lowie Mandado, 29, who hails from Hawaii, USA, by virtue of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Miendrado Paredes.

PDEA-7 spokesman Jessie Tabanao said recovered from Mandado was one big pack of shabu that was already submitted to the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 for examination.

Tabanao added that prior to the operation, they conducted month-long surveillance on Mandado and had proven that the suspect is involved in the illegal drug trade.

He said the suspect is considered a level one drug pusher as he can dispose up to more than a kilo of shabu every month even if he is not here in the country often. Mandado allegedly had with him a “runner” named “Bukog” who receives the drugs sent by Mandado and disposes it to their customers.

Mandado, who was placed under the PDEA watch list since last year, is supposedly going back to Hawaii this September.

The suspect allegedly gets his illegal drugs supply from Mindanao where he had contacts as well as from the neighboring areas in Cebu City.

According to Tabanao, the house where Mandado temporarily stayed is owned by Tata Negro, one of the notorious drug pushers in Cebu City. But Mandado claimed the house is owned by his aunt.

PDEA is now preparing the charges to be filed against the suspect. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)