Police crack down family-run drug den

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group  cracked down on a family-run drug den in northern Cebu.

Arrested in a buy-bust operation Sunday evening were Ramirez brothers, Petronio Jr. alias Ondo, 40; Romeo, 59; Roger, 49; and Jessie, 26, who reportedly made illegal drugs as a family business.

Operatives also arrested Aldrin Torres, 25; Gerry Elorde, 31; and Lowell Cabatingan, 38, all of Barangay Hagnaya, San Remigio.

Confiscated from them were 23 small, three medium and three large packets of shabu estimated to worth around P150,000; drug paraphernalia, P500 bill and P2,690 cash believed to be proceeds, weighing scale, cellular phone, .45 cal. pistol with magazine loaded with seven bullets and three extra bullets and six bullets of .38 revolver.

The illegal drugs were taken to the Philippine National Police Regional Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug for chemical analysis.

Several complaints against the suspects prompted the operatives to conduct surveillance before they carried out the operation at 9:45 in the evening.

Right after the transaction, operatives immediately arrested Elorde, who no longer resisted arrest.

Cabatingan and Petronio were also arrested for repacking shabu while Romeo, Jessie, Aldrin, and Roger were caught sniffing shabu.

“They were caught by surprise that’s why wala na sila nakapalag during the arrest,” said Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, chief of the PAIDSOTG-Provincial Intelligence Branch.

Suspects were tagged as level-three drug pushers who could dispose of 25 grams of shabu in a week.

Their scope of distribution reportedly includes neighboring towns, but operatives have yet to validate where the illegal drugs came from.

Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director, Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, said drug users do not only buy drugs from Petronio but also pay additional P10 for tinfoil and for the use of the drug den.

 â€œNaay kubo-kubo duol sa balay mao nay suyupanan,” Gillamac said.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects while a separate case for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Regulations Act will be filed against Petronio. (FREEMAN)