PCG seizes shabu from ship passenger

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Philippine Coast Guard seized over the weekend an undetermined amount of shabu, from a female passenger of MV/Super Ferry at the Doña Eva Macapagal Terminal in Manila.

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo identified the suspect as Maria Natividad Gumilao, 19, of Minglanila, Cebu City.

Also found in the possession of Gumilao were a deposit slip from Banco De Oro amounting to P79,000 dated Oct. 26, 2009; and two official receipts from Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop amounting to P327,376 and P72,080 also dated Oct. 26,2009, Tamayo said.

An official receipt from SkyLiner Service Corp. amounting to P4977 dated Oct. 26, 2009; a ticket reservation from Cebu Pacific amounting to P4,876.15 dated Oct. 26, 2009; and two units of cellular phones (K5301 Ericsson and Nokia) were likewise found in her possession, Tamayo said.

Tamayo said that at around 9 p.m. on Sunday, while conducting a body search on Gumilao, a female security guard at the Doña Eva Macapagal Terminal slightly sensed a hard object at Gumilao’s breast portion.

Tamayo said the suspect immediately ran away and tried to escape.

The guard immediately sought assistance from a PCG seaman detailed at the terminal who chased Gumilao until he caught her outside the terminal.

With the help of the female guard, some substance was found in her underwear, Tamayo said.

Tamayo said Gumilao was immediately brought to the officer-in-charge of security guards for initial investigation prior to turn over to Port State Control Center Manila.

He said Gumilao and her companion identified as Melvin Gerpacio, 33, were later turned over to Glenn Lagutan of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Metro Manila Regional Office (MMRO).  – Helen Flores