Mother of 5, accomplice fall in buy-bust operation

CEBU, Philippines - A mother of five and her alleged henchman were arrested after police confiscated from them more than 100 sachets of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Operatives of the City Intelligence Branch and Fuente Police Station swooped down on 37-year-old Farah Fernandez alias “Paya” as soon as she handed over a pack of shabu to the poseur-buyer in exchange for P500.

At least 96 small packs of shabu were confiscated from Fernandez.

Eight packs of the same illegal drugs were also seized from Fernandez’s companion, John Joseph Galimba alias “Yakmo”, 28.

The drugs seized from the suspects amounted to P52,000, said police. The police also confiscated from the suspects P1,200 cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal drug activities.

Inspector Gomersendo Mandawe, the deputy chief of CIB, said Fernandez’s neighbors complained her to authorities.

According to some of the neighbors, Mandawe said, there were instances when strangers would suddenly get inside their houses in Purok 3 Upper thinking that the house was that of Fernandez.

“Kanang mura’g pareha og balay niya, adto mosulod iyang mga kustomer. Magtuo nga iyaha to nga balay. Makulbaan sila kay adto man mosud sa laing balay,” said Mandawe.

Mandawe said Fernandez gets her supply of illegal drugs from A. Lopez Street in Barangay Calamba, from someone who just meets her to deliver the illegal drugs.

Fernandez, in an interview, admitted selling shabu, saying that she only did it in order to feed her five children and to buy medicine for her kidney disease and ulcer. Her eldest is 22 years old while her youngest is two years old.

She said that she was only able to finish Grade One and the only work she had before was carrying sand with a very small salary.

For every pack of shabu that she sells, Fernandez said she is given 30 percent of the income, which is already enough for her family and for her medicines. She sometimes gets P12,000 a day, she added.

The suspect cried while looking at the picture of her two-year-old son in her cellular phone, who she said was suffering from fever when she was arrested yesterday.

Both suspects are now detained and will be facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  (FREEMAN)