Inmate yields drug paraphernalia

CEBU, Philippines - A surprise saturation drive conducted inside the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City yesterday afternoon yielded 77 tin foils which were seized from inmate, Ferdinand Po, who was earlier jailed for drug charges.

Po who is from F. Llamas, Barangay Tisa allegedly kept the tin foils inside a plastic bottle of baby powder.

Jail Officer Mark Sato seized the drug tin foils when they conducted “Operation Greyhound” in the facility at around 1 p.m. yesterday.

JO1 Eufinel Bahina, BJMP Intelligence and Investigation clerk, said the operation was conducted at the fourth floor of the jail’s drug offenders’ building.

Upon entering, Bahina said Po was noticeably uneasy and was holding a plastic bottle of baby powder.

The inmate’s suspicious actions led the jail officers to approach the victim and check the baby powder bottle that he was holding.

Upon twisting the cap and pouring its contents, Sato discovered aluminum foil instead of baby powder.

Recovered from Po were 77 strips of aluminum foil believed to be used in sniffing shabu.

Bahina said they conducted a surprise inspection after receiving reports of “bombing” which refers to contraband being thrown into the facility from outside its perimeter fence.

“Vulnerable ang among area sa ‘bombing’ tungod kay di magpareha ang gitas-on sa koral. Di mo-ubos ug ten feet ang perimeter fence. We will find ways to prevent this incident from happening again, Bahina said

BBRC jail officers are coordinating with the Guadalupe police station for the filing of appropriate charges.

Meanwhile, an alleged level two drug pusher managed to elude arrest when authorities swooped on him in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City at 2:15 a.m. yesterday.

Police managed to recover illegal drugs worth P34,000 as they served a warrant for Nilo Aban who evaded elements of the Cebu City Police Office Intelligence Branch.

Seized from Aban’s “hideout” was a large pack; a medium pack and 10 small sachets of white crystalline substance all believed to be shabu.

City Intelligence Chief Romeo Santander told The FREEMAN that Aban is identified as one of the notorious drugs pushers in Barangay Ermita.

“Wala pako mi-asumir isip hepe sa CIB, naa na siya sa watch list sa kapulisan,” he said.

Santander said that when his men entered the area, residents immediately noticed their presence and informed Aban.  

“Pagsulod palang namo sa lugar na-luto na mi, mao nga naka ikyas to si Aban kay daghan man og mga lutsanan sa lugar,” he said.

Prior to the operation, they received at tip of Aban’s illegal activities in the areas which led to over two week’s surveillance before they served the search warrant issued by Executive Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras.

Though Aban escaped, Santander said they are currently searching for his whereabouts.

He said their intensified anti-drug campaigns are part of the directive of their new Regional Director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr., to clear the streets of lawless elements. 

Santander said this is just the beginning and they are planning for similar operations in the future.

Meanwhile, Mark Chua Quevedo, 28, of Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City an alleged Tau Gamma Fraternity hit man was also apprehended 1 p.m. yesterday by elements of the Investigation and Detection and Management Branch (IDMB).

By virtue of an arrest warrant issued by RTC Branch 20 Judge Bienvinido Saniel Jr. a year ago for frustrated murder, the authorities tagged Quevedo as suspect in numerous murder cases in previous years.

Despite his admission that he is an active member of the Tau Gamma Fraternity, Quevedo was quick to say that he is innocent and has never harmed anyone.

In 2006, he was tagged responsible for punching a cop and in 2009, he was also accused of shooting two high school students.

Said to be the nephew of former Mobile Patrol Group supervisor Insp. Pedro Quevedo, the suspect is currently detained at the CCPO detention cell and is set to be presented to the court who issued his warrant of arrest.  (FREEMAN)