Grandma operating‘drug den’ arrested

CEBU, Philippines - A 68-year-old grandmother, her son and her granddaughter and four others were arrested when police swooped down on a reported drug den in Purok Dama de Noche, Barangay Looc, Lapu- Lapu City on Wednesday afternoon.

Victoria Tampus, 68, alleged owner of the drug den, was arrested by police together with her son Marlon Tesorio, 45, and granddaughter Jocelyn Tesorio, 31.

Policemen also arrested Grace Rapada and Jason Valiente, both 27; Cedric Jabal, 24; and Finely Casul, 40, who were inside the drug den reportedly using drugs.

The seven drug suspects are all residents of Purok Dama de Noche.

Police Senior Inspector Wilbert Parilla, station chief of Gun-ob Police Station, said they have previously conducted a foot patrol in the area last year and crossed Tampus' house and found out that it was a drug den.

Parilla said they initially destroyed Tampus' small drug den as a warning sign to stop the illegal activity.

"Gibungkag namo ang suyupanan. Wala namo siya una gi-file-lan due to her old age and because of humanitarian considerations," Parilla said.

But the police station chief said they have received a text complaint earlier saying Tampus had once again operated a drug den.

"Among gi-monitor less than a week, nag-positive man, so among gi-adto ang area," he added.

The reported drug den sits beside the house of Tampus with two small rooms inside it.

Police seized 12 small sachets of suspected shabu from Jocelyn and 17 sachets and a .22 caliber pistol with five live ammunition from Tesorio.

A medium pack of suspected shabu was confiscated from Tampus and another four small sachets and drug paraphernalia were also confiscated each from Valiente, Jabal, Rapada and Casul.

Parilla said all the illegal drugs seized amounted to P50,000.

The suspects are now detained in the holding cell of Gun-ob Police Station and are facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)