CEBU, Philippines - Eighteen persons, six of whom were girls and the rest juveniles, were arrested by the operatives of the Opao Police station for smoking marijuana in an abandoned house in Purok Lemonsito in barangay Umapad, Mandaue City Thursday afternoon.
Police also seized a half kilo of marijuana with an estimated street value of P10,000.
Abot said the half a kilo of marijuana was taken from the possession of Aldie Amaya, 23, who resides in Oslob town.
Police also confiscated ten more marijuana leaves from Jovalyn Alonzo, Amaya's alleged girlfriend.
Two half-consumed marijuana sticks were also taken from one Cris dela Cruz.
Opao police station chief P/Insp. Wilson Abot said most of those arrested are identified with the street gang called "Crips."
A telephone caller had tipped the police about the group creating noise inside an abandoned house.
The group was taken to the Opao police station for detention and will later undergo drug examinations. Charges will be filed afterwards.
Abot also said the six minors who are all girls were already turned over to the City Social Welfare Services, which will determine whether they acted with discernment or not.
One of the parents of the minors had reported to the Basak police about a missing daughter and some parents have said their children have been away from home for the past four days.
He also said the abandoned house used to be a drug den and is suspected to be a place where hazing is done. (FREEMAN)