11 arrested in drug den

CEBU, Philippines - Eleven people were arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 at an alleged drug den in Sitio Ka-wit, Barangay Ermita, past 2 p.m. yesterday.

PDEA information officer Jessie Tabanao said the suspects, including the alleged maintainer of the said drug den, were arrested as a result of a buy-bust operation.

Through an asset, Tabanao said they supposedly transacted for P500 worth of shabu from one of the suspects, Dax Keary Ag-ag.

As soon as Ag-ag received the marked money from the police decoy, PDEA personnel tried to arrest him.

Ag-ag reportedly tried to escape and ran towards a shanty where the PDEA operatives followed him and found the 10 other suspects and arrested them as well.

Tabanao said they recovered 27 more packs of suspected shabu from Ag-ag and .45 cal. pistol with four live rounds.

“Giprenda ra daw ‘to sa iyaha in exchange sa drugs,” Tabanao said.

Tabanao identified the other suspects as Nestorio Lovete, Ronilo Elcano, Eleuterio Rivera, Romero Del Puerto, Reymundo Batac, Argie Nadela, Richard Torion, Jose Junjay Cenabre, Anna Mae Alicabo and Marina Cosido.  Lovete allegedly maintained the drug den.

Tabanao said they also recovered a pack of shabu each from Lovete and Elcano. Lovete, who yielded P400 cash believed to be drug money, was also found with drug paraphernalia.

Tabanao further said the suspects each paid P20 to Lovete to be allowed to use the drug den.

Charges are set to be filed against the suspects who are now detained at the PDEA-7 lock-up cell.

Tabanao said they are stepping up operations against drug dens following the order from their national office.  Just recently, PDEA operatives also raided drug dens in Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City, and Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City that resulted in the arrest of a number of drug pushers and users.  (FREEMAN)