NBI raids church used as drug den

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday raided a Christian church compound used as a drug den and shabu tiangge (flea market) in BF Homes Subdivision in Parañaque City.

Among those arrested was Diosdado Bartolome Jr., whose parents are founders of the Charismatic Outreach Ministries Foundations Inc. (COMFI).

Bartolome denied peddling shabu but reportedly admitted that three houses within the compound were used by people who wanted to “jam” with them. Several sachets of suspected illegal drugs and some paraphernalia were found in his son’s room. 

Students, some of them minors, also use an empty lot in front of his house to use drugs, allegedly bought from Bartolome, the NBI said.

During the raid, several men, unaware of the ongoing operation by NBI anti-illegal drug unit (AIDU), went to the place to buy cigarettes or tools needed for carpentry. When frisked, only cigarette packs were found inside their pockets.

Executive Judge Jaime Guray of the Parañaque regional trial court issued the warrant to search the three houses maintained by Bartolome.