13 face drug raps

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has indicted before the Regional Trial Court 13 persons arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation-7 for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

After finding probable cause, state prosecutor Al Rey Ouano held respondents Allan Pacaldo, Joel Degamo, Cristine Fuentespina, Gilbert Sitoy, and Marlon Degamo liable for violation of Section 15 (use of dangerous drugs) and Section 7 (visiting a drug den) and Marlon Mahusay, Junnathan Nuñez, Jay Apatan, Angelito Holgado, Junjie Cavite, Eufil Hidalgo, Sergio Maravellas, and Felixberto Matidios responsible for violation of Section 7 Article II of Republic Act 9165.

Ouano recommended P200,000 bail for violation of Section 7 and P5,000 bail for violation of Section 15 for the suspects’ temporary liberty.

On August 8, the NBI-7 conducted a buy-bust operation and served a search warrant against one Valeriano Degamo, also known as Edot Degamo, at Sitio Calan, Barangay Poblacion, Cordova. The suspect, however, eluded arrest.

The operation led to the arrest of 21 persons including three minors who were mostly residents of Cordova and the nearby Lapu-lapu City.

After an evaluation, the NBI-7 filed charges against 13 of those arrested while the rest were released from their custody and one minor was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

According to the NBI, sometime in the first week of July, their office received information from an informant that a certain Edot Degamo was engaged in sale and distribution of shabu in Cordova and used his residence in Sitio Calan as a drug den.

According to the informant, the drug trade in the barangay was booming because Degamo was “untouchable” as he was allegedly under protection of the local government unit, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and police authorities in Cordova.

NBI-7 director Max Salvador ordered his agents to place the suspect under surveillance who eventually verified the report. — (FREEMAN)