CEBU, Philippines - A suspected big-time drug pusher was arrested together with a 16-year-old alleged cohort after they yielded almost P1.2 million worth of suspected shabu during an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City yesterday morning.
Jeffrey delos Santos, 30, of Abellana Street in the same barangay and the minor were immediately detained after they were apprehended by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 and San Nicolas Police Station operatives.
Senior Inspector Delfin Bontuyan, CIDG-7 chief investigator, said that if they have not arrested delos Santos, the alleged drug pusher is the type who likely would grow in the illegal drug trade.
“Modako gyud na siya kung wala pa na nakuha namo kay di man mogamit gud. Negosyo ra gyud iya. Kanang di mogamit, molambo man gyud na (There is really the possibility that his illegal business will grow bigger since he does not use illegal drugs. Those who don’t use drugs are usually the ones whose business would flourish),” said Bontuyan.
He said drug pushers who are also users would likely end up bankrupt since they would also be the one who would consume what they supposedly would sell.
Bontuyan said delos Santos was a level two drug pusher, or one who can sell more than 200 grams of illegal drugs every week, operating in barangays Pasil and Ermita.
“Sikat-sikat pud na siya nga drug pusher diha (He is also a noted drug pusher in the area),” he said, revealing that delos Santos is already two years into the trade.
He said that after two months of surveillance, they applied for a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras against delos Santos for violating the anti-illegal drug law.
Bontuyan said that when they arrived on Abellana Street, they saw the 16-year-old boy sitting by the door of delos Santos’ house. The minor was arrested after the police allegedly seized two small packs of suspected shabu from him.
Bontuyan said they found delos Santos inside his room with the assorted packs of illegal drugs still scattered around him as the suspect was allegedly repacking illegal drugs that time.
The policemen confiscated from delos Santos seven large and 46 small sachets of illegal drugs, including those confiscated from the minor. All the seized items weighed P100 grams, which would fetch P1.18 million.
Authorities also confiscated drug sniffing paraphernalia and a 9mm pistol loaded with assorted ammunitions from inside delos Santos’ room.
Bontuyan said the minor initially turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Services yesterday morning, which examined the boy and concluded that he already acted with discernment when he committed the crime he was accused of. With this, the police took him back for the filing of the appropriate criminal complaint against him.
A smiling delos Santos, on the other hand, denied that he was a drug pusher, saying the confiscated illegal drugs were not his but that of his friend. He, however, refused to divulge his friend’s name.
He also said he was not the one who rented the house where the illegal drugs were found but his supposed friend, alleging that he was just asked to take care of the house and keep an eye on the illegal drugs in exchange for P500 a week.
“Nangiyawat sab ko og kwarta sab kay naa man koy anak unya wa koy trabaho (I needed money since I have children and don’t have a job),” he said.
His children, ages five (twins), three years old, and six months old, are living in another house with their mother.
Delos Santos said he used to sell fish but it could not support his family since his twins and three-year-old child are already studying in school.
He also said the 16-year-old minor, who was his neighbor, had nothing to do with illegal drugs since the minor just went inside the house to get something to eat for breakfast when the policemen came.
“Maghatagay ra man gud mi og pagkaon didto sa mga bata. Unya naapil lang na siya (We share food to the kids. It so happen he was there when the police came),” said Delos Santos.
He also said he was smiling because it was the only thing he could do to make his problem go away, but admitted the joy of being free is entirely different.
“Lahi ra gyud ang kalipay kung naa diri og sa gawas uy. Mingaw kaayo diri (The happiness you feel is different if are free. It is very lonely here),” said delos Santos inside the CIDG-7 detention cell.
Delos Santos and the 16-year-old boy will be facing charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Another charge for illegal possession of firearms will be filed against delos Santos. — /RHM (FREEMAN)