70-year-old grandma arrested for shabu

A 70-year-old grandmother landed in jail after selling shabu to an undercover policeman in Sampaloc, Manila the other day.

Chief Inspector Jose Mario Espino, chief of the Western Police District (WPD)’s District Drug Enforcement Group, identified the suspect as Cornelia Loberio, a widow, of 2158 Sobriedad st., Sampaloc, Manila.

Espino said Loberio, popularly known as Aling Une in her neighborhood, uses her sari-sari store as front for selling illegal drugs.

Police surveillance showed Aling Une was selling shabu and marijuana like an everyday commodity. "In fact, Aling Une offered come-ons by selling marijuana complete with rolling paper and shabu with aluminum tin foil," Espino said, adding that her store is just a stone’s throw away from the Holy Trinity Academy in Balic Balic, Sampaloc.

In detention, a weeping Aling Une asked police authorities to forgive and release her for humanitarian reasons. She said she was forced to sell drugs due to the hardship of feeding 10 sons and daughters and also three grandchildren.

Meanwhile, Espino also announced the arrest of a drug-dealing couple and their lady companion in a recent buy-bust operation in Pasay City. He identified the suspects as Jamael Maruhom, 27; his wife Baoli, 23; and Marinel Generao, 20, all of Sykason Apartment, Decena st., Pasay City. – Nestor Etolle