Nine "users" fall in drug bust

CEBU, Philippines - At least nine alleged drug users were apprehended by elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – 7 in a buy-bust operation at Villagonzalo 2, Barangay Tejero Cebu City yesterday afternoon.

The subject of the operation, Hermoso “Tatay” de la Cruz, said to be in his fifties, escaped arrest after noticing the presence of policemen at around 1 pm. De la Cruz is said to be a level two drug pusher.

PDEA-7 Deputy Director Levi Ortiz said de la Cruz managed to escape after several of his “spotters” tipped him off while the operation was going on. 

Ortiz said de la Cruz already got their P500 buy-bust money when he suddenly ran from their poseur buyer and fled. PDEA-7 operatives pursued de la Cruz but despite his old age, still managed to escape.

While de la Cruz ran from pursuing PDEA agents, Roger Ruiz, Julito Lyutarago, Reynan Calderon, brothers Jonathan and Benjamin Redola, Belmon Hermosa and Edmat Toryon, tried to escape but failed.

Ortiz said the seven reportedly came from three shanties near the Blessed Sacrament Church which allegedly serves as a drug den.

Elements from the Cebu City Police Office Special Weapons and Tactics assisted PDEA-7 agents in apprehending the nine suspects and firing several warning shots.

Over a hundred used lighters and other drug paraphernalia were seized from the house occupied by Roberto Arbiol, 31, and his live-in partner, Rosemarie Roma 24, who managed the drug den reportedly owned by de la Cruz.

Only five small sachets of white crystalline substance worth P500 each were seized from the drug den.

Ortiz said Arbiol managed the drug den, while de la Cruz supplies the drugs.

“They (Arbiol and de la Cruz) have been operating for the past five years. But we can’t easily operate because of their strategic location,” he said.

Arbiol admitted running the drug den when he was shown a piece of cardboard with the payment instructions.

“Please pay the house and for the foil. P5 per head,” the instruction reads.Arbiol said the drug den have only been operating for the past two weeks.

The nine suspects are currently detained at PDEA-7 stockade while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared against them. — (FREEMAN)