Live-in couple arrested in Argao for selling shabu

CEBU, Philippines - Suspected shabu worth P200,000 was seized from a live-in couple arrested in Barangay Taloot, Argao yesterday.

Police said the couple, Virginia Sanchez, 40, and her partner Carlos Ortega, 38, are classified as Level 2 drug pushers.

Also arrested were the couple’s alleged henchmen, Julius Sanchez, 20, Marcelo Cabeco, 29, and Mark Anthony Albaracin, 27.

Senior Inspector Alejandro Batobalonos, Argao Police Station chief, said they hatched the operation after they secured a search warrant from the court.

The timing was right, he said, because it was yesterday when Virginia went back to Argao after a trip to Cebu City.

Operatives recovered several packs of shabu from Virginia’s bag weighing 19.7 grams worth P232, 460 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board estimates.

Batobalonos said Virginia allegedly sourced the shabu from Cebu City where she also sold it. Ortega, meanwhile, sold the shabu in Argao.

“Dugay rami naghapa-hapa ani nila, pero gahapon ang ingon sa spotter nato nga naa sila tanan sa balay mao to’ng gironda nato aron madakpan tanan, mausa og kadakop,” Batobalonos said.

Batobalonos said he is making the most of his time in Argao implementing the illegal drugs campaign before he will transfer to Tuburan next week.

“Pangtiwason nako ni sila mintras naa pako diri sa Argao… naa pa’y lain ani mosunod,” he said.

TEACHERS

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission (CPADAC) announced yesterday the project of the Department of Health (DOH) to discuss their community-based aftercare program aimed at helping the Department of Education (DepEd) curb drug use among teachers.

The discussion is set on January 19 at the CPADAC office at the Capitol.

“This is to address the concern of Dr. Angtud if ever there will be teachers found positive, on a surprise drug test” said CPADAC Executive Director Joey Herrera.

Dr. Rhea Angtud, head of DepEd Cebu Province Division, is supporting the mandatory drug test among teachers following the arrest of two teachers – one in Danao and another in Badian – last year for drug use. 

Herrera said that the community-based aftercare program will be discussed by accredited physicians.

According to Herrera, the community-based aftercare program provides free counseling to those who use drugs and ‘referred rehabilitation’ dependent on the level of drug dependency of the person.

Among the problems they anticipate are payment of bills and accommodation for those who will be referred for rehabilitation.

The community-based aftercare program will also provide trainings to social workers and capacitate them on counseling with the help of accredited physicians.

“This is community based man gud so whenever, tagaasa sila naa siguro na silay naka-paci-tated nga social worker, they don’t need to come to the office diri sa Cebu,” Herrera told The Freeman. — (FREEMAN)