Hotel owner, cohort arrested for ecstasy

CEBU, Philippines — A hotel owner and his alleged supplier of party drugs were arrested in separate buy bust operations last Thursday night.

The hotel owner was identified as Richard Ngo Go, 40. He was arrested after he allegedly tried to sell ecstasy to a cop during a joint operation of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) and Regional Special Operations Group at his hotel along A.C. Cortes, Barangay Alang-alang, Mandaue City at past 7 p.m.

Police seized from Go’s possession 11 pieces of alleged ecstasy worth P36,000; a water bottle containing an orange solution; a P1,000 marked bill; and a broken cellphone.

Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7, told reporters Go cooperated with the cops to track his supplier.

This led to the arrest of Neil Benjamin Yap, 33, a resident of Quiot Pardo in Cebu City.

Yap was arrested when he delivered more than 15 types of alleged ecstasy at Go’s hotel.

Espino said Go could sell a pill of ecstasy at P1,800.

Espino warned business owners, organizers, and the public against selling the party drugs during Sinulog.

“We are really bent in catching this kind of drugs, mostly sold in clubs, ngayon is Sinulog, alam naman natin, na people are fond of parties, if you are doing or taking this illegal drugs huhulihin namin kayo,” Epsino said.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) Director Emerson Margate said that ecstasy twice dangerous than shabu when mixed with other toxics and alcoholic drinks.

“We do not know what is the source and ano ang chemical in it. Masama po ito sa kabataan lalo na po at na mix ito sa alcohol,” Margate said.

Go and Yap are now in detention.

Other busts

Meanwhile, an alleged former underling of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa was arrested in Bulacao, Talisay City on Thursday also during a buy-bust operation conducted by the PDEA operatives.

The suspect was identified as Baysay Custodio, 29, a resident of the area.

Margate said they been monitoring Custodio for quite time after her name came out since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office.

Custodio’s name was one of those Espinosa disclosed during a Senate hearing.

Margate said Custodio is considered a high-value target not only in Central Visayas but also in Region 8.

He said the suspect can be considered a big player of illegal drugs basing on her wide area of distribution.

“Ito, mino-monitor na talaga to… mailap siya, palipat-lipat. Na-establish talaga namin ang mga assets para makuha siya. Nakikita natin na ang galawan niya based sa area ay napakalawak talaga,” Margate said.

During the operation, Custodio yielded at least 250 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated Dangerous Drug Board value of at least P1,250,000.

PDEA operatives also confiscated Custodio’s mobile phone, which will be endorsed to the Cyber Crime laboratory for evidence and other information purposes.

Custodio denied the allegations and said she was framed.

“Dili na tinuod. Planted ra na tanan,” she said.

The suspect is detained at PDEA-7 lock up cell. She is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Also last Thursday, a mother and her son were nabbed in PDEA-led operations in Colon St., Barangay Parian, Cebu City.

The suspects were identified as Mimbilus Acampado, 44, and Christian Acampado, both residents of the barangay.

Police said at least 70 grams of suspected shabu worth P350,000 were seized from the suspects.

In yet another operation last Wednesday night, police arrested alleged drug personalities Filemon Cañares III aka “Ekong,” 27, and Bobbie Megio, 34, in Barangay Colon City in Naga town.

Police seized nine small triangular packs and two medium packs of suspected shabu from the two.

PO2 Crispin Amaquiton of the Naga City police said Mejio had a previous case involving drug paraphernalia and violence against women.

In neighboring Carcar, police arrested one of the city’s top three most wanted persons yesterday morning.

The suspect was identified as Angelito Baay, 27, who allegedly had been hiding from authorities for the past six years.

He has a pending warrant for murder issued by the Regional Trial Court in 2013. Mae Clydyl L. Avila, Ermida Q. Moradas, Iris Mariani B. Algabre (FREEMAN)