Six fall for bringing drug paraphernalia

CEBU, Philippines - Five people including a woman were arrested after they were reportedly caught in the act of possessing illegal drug paraphernalia in Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City on Thursday.

In Barangay Pung-ol Sibugay, a man was also arrested for the same offense.

In Kamagayan, the suspects were identified as Gerwin Vargas, 30, of Barangay Sambag II; Chonalyn Flores, 22, of Barangay Kamagayan; Raul Lu, 46, of Barangay Kinalumsan, Lapu-Lapu City; Daniel Mondigo, 32; and Wowie Singson, 20.

Senior Police 2 Francisco Parilla of Parian Police said they were responding to a robbery alarm when they happened to pass by an open shanty and saw the suspects bringing drug paraphernalia.

“Abli ra ang shanty ug klaro kaayo sila sa sud ug wala pud tingali sila nag-expect nga adunay magli-bot-libot sa lugar nga mga pulis kay kadlawn lage,” said Parilla in a phone interview.

Parilla clarified that they did not see the group using illegal drugs, but the possession of the paraphernalia validates their arrest, he explained.

Recovered from the suspects were two disposable syringes, two empty ampules of regulated drug Nubain, one strip aluminum tin foil, two improvised glass tooters, one plastic tube, and three disposable lighters.

The suspects are now detained in Parian Police Station detention cell while a case for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is set to be filed against them.

Meanwhile in Pung-ol Sibugay, at around 7 p.m. of the same day, police arrested Alex Survilla, 41, who reportedly looked suspicious while going inside a dark hut.

The team reportedly followed Survilla inside and found in his possession three rolled tissues, two rolled aluminum tin foil and two disposable lighters.

The suspect was immediately arrested and brought to Cebu City Police Office for proper disposition. — Samuelle Joyrin C. Caing, USJ-R MassComm Intern/NSA (FREEMAN)