7 arrested in “drug den” in Tejero

CEBU, Philippines - At least P150,000 worth of shabu was confiscated and seven persons were arrested by the elements of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency-7 Saturday afternoon in Sitio Villagonzalo II, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City.

The PDEA-7 was able to arrest the subject of the search warrant, Tata Dequitos, alias Wawa or Felix Flores Borla Jr., 23 years old.

Six others were also arrested, namely: Rendo Rubio Plenos, 31, of Dipolog City; Marcial Milana Carbonilla, 32, of Villagonzalo II; Rangie Macarat Resomadero, 23, of MJ Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City; Rolando Salazar Quiño, 39; Armando Aroa Monsalud, 45; and Romy Muaña Formentera, 39 of Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

The six were arrested after they were caught visiting the alleged drug den, which the elements of PDEA also dismantled during the operation.

PDEA-7 seized 180 pieces of transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing more or less 50 grams and worth P150,000; 14 pieces of empty plastic sachets with traces of suspected shabu; drug paraphernalia and P1,280 cash, believed to be proceeds of the illegal trade.

Complaints for violation of Sections 6 (maintenance of a den), 11 (illegal possession of dangerous drugs), and 12 (illegal possession of drugs paraphernalia), Article II of RA 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act will be filed against Dequito, while the other suspects will be facing violation of Section 7, Article II of RA 9165 for visiting drug den.

Meanwhile, two persons were arrested by the police in a buy-bust operation past 3 p.m. on Sunday in Barangay Matab-ang, Toledo City.

Joel Rabago, a suspected drug pusher and the subject of the operation was arrested after he allegedly sold a pack of shabu to a poseur-buyer.

Joselito Azarcon, who was also present in the area, was arrested after yielding a pack of shabu.

The operation was a result of at least two weeks of surveillance and test-buy operations.

After the validation, Toledo City Police Station coordinated with the PDEA-7 for the conduct of the buy-bust operation.

A poseur-buyer transacted with Rabago in Matab-ang and asked the suspected drug pusher to sell him a pack of shabu worth P200.

After the transaction, the police immediately arrested Rabago.

The police recovered from him 18 small packs of suspected shabu and when Azarcon, who was with Rabago during the transaction, was frisked, he also yielded a pack of suspected shabu.

Both suspects were brought to the police station and will be charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (FREEMAN)