13 arrested, shabu worth P500T seized from den

CEBU, Philippines — A joint police operation on an alleged drug den in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City last Friday afternoon led to the arrest of 13 people and the seizure of suspected shabu worth half a million.

Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and City Intelligence Branch first arrested Joremo Fuentes Gollodo, 28, when he sold two packs of shabu worth P4,000 to a poseur buyer.

Police also recovered 356 packs of suspected shabu from Gollodo’s possession.

PDEA-7 Director Jeffrey Bangsa said the illegal drugs seized from Gollodo weighed at least 50 grams with an estimated street value of at least P500,000.

 The drug den was located just a near the area where Gollodo was arrested and there, the alleged owner, Panfilo Degamo Anana, 50, and 11 persons inside were also placed under arrest.

 The 11, all residents of Barangay Pasil, were identified as Fatima Minoza Rico, 25; Virgilio Lada, 21; Erwin Talugon Montecalvo,31; Ariel Bagul Flores, 24; Neil Banilad Galo, 31; Ronel Tura Cereno, 27; Jimmy Himongala Cruz, 42; Darryl Minoza Flores, 31; Jermene Paca Pateres, 28; Jhomar Tublan Carticiano, 22; and Rowen About Ombajin, 27.

Police also confiscated assorted drug paraphernalia from the drug den.

 Bangsa said they placed the drug den under surveillance since January and learned that it operated for 24 hours with the suspects operating in three shifts.

Anana would reportedly get his supplies from Gollodo from the den.

“Lumalabas na magkakontsaba sila. Iba-iba ang nagbabantay sa drug den. May permanente sa lugar. Parang ganon ang style nila, tuloy-tuloy,” Bangsa said.

Bangsa said operators like Anana are small-time drug personalities who work for big-time drug groups. PDEA is coordinating closely with the PNP to identify these groups.

The suspects reportedly remained mum during interrogation.

The 13 suspects are detained at the PDEA detention cell and will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

 Bangsa assured the public of PDEA-7’s continued fight against the proliferation of illegal drugs together with the aggressive efforts of the personnel of Cebu City Police Office under the leadership of Senior Supt. Conrad Capa. —JMO (FREEMAN)