Women drug pushers rising - PDEA

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) expressed concern yesterday over the increasing number of women who are getting involved in illegal drug activities.

Allegedly, more and more women are being arrested, particularly for drug pushing as evidenced by the 213 women who were nabbed nationwide during the last six months.

PDEA director general Jose Gutierrez Jr. did not provide comparative data but nevertheless reported that there has been an increase.

Of the 213 females arrested on drug related charges during the first half of 2012, 135 were collared for pushing, 51 for possession, 16 for using, four for maintaining drug dens, five for trafficking, and two for being cohorts.

Just recently, Gutierrez said another three women were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by PDEA.

On July 7, a 37-year-old widow identified as Aida Bayao and her brother Januddin Bayao were arrested by anti-narcotics agents in Region 12 headed by director Aileen Lovitos in a team up with the local police force and the Philippine Army.

They were nabbed after a search warrant was served against them at their residence in Magulang, Maitum in Sarangani province where two plastic sachets of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia were recovered.

On the same day, another female pusher identified as Epifania Limatog, a 50-year-old spinster, was arrested by elements of PDEA Regional Office 7 under director Jigger Montallana at her residence along Luna Street, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City after she sold two plastic sachets of shabu to an undercover operative.

In Zone 1, Digos City, Davao del Sur, agents of Regional Office 11 headed by director Emerson Rosales arrested Cherry Mae Perez, 25, during a buy-bust operation after she sold one plastic sachet of shabu to an agent.