Eight arrested in Lahug drug den

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 arrested eight persons and confiscated at least P85,000 worth of shabu past 11 p.m Saturday in Salinas Drive, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Michael Bahin, the subject of the operation, eluded arrest when PDEA-7 agents implemented a search warrant. However, his cohort, Armando Flor, 32, of Samboan town was arrested.

Bahin allegedly operates a drug den in Purok Sto. Niño in Barangay Lahug, with Flor as his right hand.

Lyster Antonio Togono, 21; Vicente Morales Avelino, 27, carpenter; Juliboy Quirante Andilao, 29, construction worker; and  Anamie Jaicten Avendanio, 26, cook, were arrested inside the drug den.

Aside from them, three call center agents namely, Paulo Cañeda Guinto, 27; Azul Ventura Enot, 28; and Flobelle Damayo Marabiles, 34, were also arrested by the PDEA-7 agents during the operation.

Confiscated from the drug den was at least 50 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P85,000; a cell phone; an improvised shotgun; four pieces live ammunition for the shotgun; 20 live ammunition for a caliber 5.56mm M16 rifle; P240; and drug paraphernalia.

PDEA-7 is set to file charges for violation of Sections 6, 11, and 12 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against Bahina and Flor while the seven arrested individuals will be charged for violation of Section 7 "visitors of a drug den" of the same law.

Meanwhile, although the subject of the buy-bust operations eluded arrest, four people allegedly caught in the act of sniffing shabu were arrested by the police past 3 a.m. Saturday in Barangay Tugbongan, Consolacion town.

Renato Tumongha alias Natoy, the subject of the ope-ration, escaped through the exit door after he noticed the police poseur-buyer.

A group of operatives tried to run after Tumongha but failed while another group entered the house and reportedly saw four men sniffing shabu. The four were identified as  Alvin Gerundio Bolonias; Jerry Lago Payla; Jomar Gura Rago; and Nino Hatamosa Gungob.

The police recovered a small pack of shabu and drug paraphernalia from Bolonias and Payla; a caliber .38 revolver from Rago; and drug paraphernalia from Gungob.

The suspects were all brought to the police station for the filing of charges against them for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (FREEMAN)