Marine intel officer, 2 companions caught in shabu session

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities caught a Marine intelligence officer and his two companions having a pot session in Zamboanga City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency  (PDEA) said on Thursday.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the suspects as Sergeant Alfrenz Abidin, 32, an intelligence officer of the Philippine Marines Corps assigned at the Western Mindanao Command and a resident of Barangay Tetuan, Zamboanga City; Nurfaina Dizon, 31, of Jolo, Sulu; and Omarcayam Ibno, 26, from Lower Calarian, Zamboanga City.

Abidin is a watch-listed drug personality in Zamboanga City, Cacdac said.

Reports showed that last December 15, around 11:30 a.m., combined elements of the PDEA Regional Office 9 (PDEA RO9) and the Intelligence Division, Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 of the Philippine Navy raided transient house on Valor Street, Zamboanga City where the three men were caught while sniffing shabu.

Operatives seized from them an aluminum foil with shabu residue, a pipe tooter, three pairs of scissors, a plastic cellophane containing several sachets, two disposable lighters, arolled aluminum foil, two cellophanes and four identification cards.

The suspects will face charges for violation of Section 13 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs During Parties, Social Gatherings or Meetings) and Section 14 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia During Parties, Social Gatherings or Meetings), Article II of RA 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.