Five people face drug complaint

CEBU, Philippines -  The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 yesterday filed a criminal complaint for a violation of  the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act against five persons before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

An alleged drug den operator, an architect, a former college instructor and a realtor were arrested in a drug operation along Urgello Street, Cebu City Tuesday evening.

Joseph Tenchavez, 40, and his sister, Rachel, 38, allegedly reserved a portion of their house to be used as a drug den.

Their customers were mostly professionals and students because their house is located near a university.

The other arrested persons include Aldo Rey Alilin, an architect; Alvin de Jesus, a former college instructor; and Luis Ramon Torralba, a realtor.  The buy-bust operation was conducted by the PDEA-7 around 6 p.m.

A tip of an ongoing drug session inside the drug den from an informant prompted the PDEA-7 agents to conduct the raid.

The alleged illegal activities of Tenchavez were confirmed by a PDEA operative who posted as a poseur-buyer and went inside the room where Alilin, de Jesus and Torralba were.

During the arrest, six small packs of shabu amounting to P300 per pack were seized along with other drug paraphernalia.

The five arrested persons were brought to PDEA detention cell and were subjected to a drug test but Torralba refused. The other four were found positive of using illegal drugs.

Tenchavez is said to be a small-time drug pusher who can only dispose of 2.5 grams of shabu a week.

However, during the inquest proceeding before state prosecutor Rogelio del Prado, Tenchavez denied the allegations that he used his residence as a drug den.

Rachel also denied that she is a drug den employee as alleged by the PDEA intelligence officer.

Along with Joseph and Rachel, Torralba, Alilim and De Jesus also denied using shabu.  The respondents, who were assisted by lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, manifested to answer the allegations before the court.  (FREEMAN)