4 fall for drugs, fake peso bills

CEBU, Philippines - A woman and her three alleged cohorts were arrested after they were caught, respectively, with ampules of nubain and counterfeit money in Barangay Day-as, Cebu City Saturday afternoon.

Operatives of the City Intelligence Branch led by Inspector Gomersendo Mandawe, the deputy chief, were patrolling the barangay’s interior portion when they spotted suspect Sheila Peralta, 32, apparently handing over an ampule of Nubain (Nalbuphine Hydrochloride) to an unidentified buyer.

The buyer, who appeared to have sensed the presence of the police, fled and managed to escape while Peralta ran towards her room.

The CIB personnel followed Peralta and eventually recovered from her a metal casing containing three ampules of the regulated drugs.

Inside Peralta’s room, the police also saw three other persons cutting and preparing fake Philippine peso bills.

The suspects, who were later identified as Ma. Sheilo Caballes, 30; Nicolas Herera, 34; both from Barangay Day-as; and Philip Erasmo, 41, of Barangay Pooc, Talisay City, were all arrested.

The CIB operatives recovered 15 fake P500 bills, two fake P1,000 bills, eight fake P100 bills and 15 fake P50 bills inside the room.

The suspects are currently detained at the Cebu City Police Office lock-up cell.

Peralta will be facing charges for violation of sections 5 and 11 of Article 2 of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Caballes, Herera and Erasmo, on the other hand, will be charged for violation of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code or for possession of counterfeit Philippine Peso bills.  (FREEMAN)