Drug busters raid Makati condo

Anti-drug agents raided yesterday a Makati City condominium unit, which they said was being used as a drug den by its occupant, a young businessman.

Police said the suspect, identified as Rommel Vincent Lim, 35, a businessman engaged in auto parts trading business, faces drug possession charges after three grams of shabu were found by agents inside his unit at the Oakwood Mansion on Enrique street, Palanan.

Lim, a commerce graduate of San Beda College, also worked as a part-time model for various underwear and men’s pants.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director Anselmo Avenido said Lim has admitted using drugs during initial questioning, but denied engaging in pushing shabu.

Avenido said the PDEA will have to examine several small-sized glass containers and chemicals to determine if they are being used to manufacture shabu.

Although the PDEA chief regarded Lim as a "small fry," the presence of equipment and chemicals indicate that Lim may have transformed his unit into a mini shabu laboratory.

"This is a mini laboratory. There may just be a few grams of shabu seized by my men, but all these indicate drug activity inside the unit," Avenido said.

Several bottles of liquor were also found all over the unit. At the ground floor, police also found several bottles of Gatorade.

A photograph of Lim posing with a senator was also among those seized at the house. A news article clipping from a tabloid on conducting drug tests for drivers was also framed along with the picture.

On the second floor, various framed photographs of Lim hang on the wall. His closet was full of signature clothes, indicating his glamorous lifestyle, PDEA said.

PDEA agents and K-9 units swooped down on Lim’s one bedroom unit at the third floor of Oakwood Mansion after a concerned resident tipped off the police about Lim’s activities.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay arrived at the scene.

The informer had claimed that a number of visitors frequent Lim’s unit , staying until early morning.

"Rommel Lim did not admit that he is into drug peddling, although there are reports that he caters to a number of clients who frequent nightclubs and bars in the city," Avenido said.

Lim initially refused to be interviewed by reporters.

"I will try to defend myself if I can... I am not yet ready to answer accusations because there are a lot of things that I have to check and consider," Lim said.

Cop Nabbed In Buy-Bust

Meanwhile, a policeman was caught selling suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation conducted last Monday night in Makati City.

The suspect was identified as SPO4 Salvador Oteyza, 52, assigned at the Southern Police District (SPD) headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Shabu worth P7,000 was seized from the suspect.

Members of the Makati City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) said they received information that the suspect was selling shabu in the area.

The buy-bust operation was conducted at around 8:40 p.m. on Yague street, Barangay Sta. Cruz.

Oteyza was washing a black Nissan Patrol (WSH-133) when a policeman, who acted as poseur-buyer, and the informant approached him to buy shabu.

The suspect went inside the house and returned with alleged sachets of shabu.

After giving the pre-arranged signal, the police arrested Oteyza.

The suspect reportedly resisted arrest and his relatives ganged up on SPO4 Arsenio Mangaluban, officer-in-charge of the Makati AID-SOTF.

A police report noted that Oteyza was fifth in the Barangay Sta. Cruz’s order of battle against drug peddlers. He was also a target in the SPD’s Oplan White Thunder.

Oteyza is now detained and has refused to take a drug test.

Two men were also arrested Monday night in a separate buy-bust operation.

Suspected shabu worth P6,000 was seized from suspect Carlo Magno Aure, 49, of Barangay Singkamas, and reportedly a brother of a Pasay City policeman formerly assigned at the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU).

The other suspect was identified as Melchor Austriatico, 37, of Maginhawa street, Pasay City.

A loaded Colt 45 was also confiscated from Aure as well as a car (NFZ-555).

The suspects were arrested at around 9 p.m. on F. Nazario street, Barangay Singkamas. – With Nikko Dizon