Police arrest 14 persons in gambling-cum-drug den in Tondo

Police arrested 14 persons in a raid at a suspected gambling-cum-drug den in Tondo, Manila yesterday. The raid was in reaction to a report that a house in Barangay 58 Zone 5 in Tondo, Manila was being frequented by gamblers and drug addicts, according to Superintendent Roderick Mariano who heads the District Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Group (DAID-SOG) of the Manila Police District.

“The place serves as a drug den where users sniff shabu, and when they are already high on drugs they try their luck on the video-karera machine,” Mariano said.

During the raid 14 persons were found inside a cramped room of the house. Five persons identified as Philip Martin, 25; Marlon Cruz, 35, Rolando Meneses, 42; Virgilio Ventura, 46; and Roque Palaoro, 34, were caught playing the video-karera machine. However, the raiding team failed to seize illegal drugs and paraphernalia, but the persons inside the house were found high on drugs. “The drug users might had thrown their stuff and drug paraphernalia when they sensed the arrival of the policemen,” Mariano said.

The 14 persons were subjected to drug tests, results of which may be known only after five days, Mariano said.

Meanwhile, Mariano revealed that he is personally monitoring the status of drug cases filed in court to ensure the conviction of the suspects. He also announced the conviction of arrested drug pusher Esmail Abdullah, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Caroline Rivera-Colasito of Regional Trial Court Branch 23.

Abdullah was arrested after handling 1.7 grams of shabu to an undercover cop in a buy-bust operation in Intramuros, Manila on Dec. 26, 2003.

“The conviction of Abdullah also proves that the DAID operatives are not remiss in their court duty,” Mariano said.