Drug den owner falls in Iloilo bust

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested a suspected drug den owner in Iloilo province during a sting operation, the PDEA said on Friday.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the suspect as Marfredo Acaso Jr., 43, of Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo.

Cacdac said that on March 11, around 4:30 p.m., anti-narcotics agents conducted a buy-bust operation in Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo which resulted in the arrest of Acaso and neutralization of a drug den.

Acaso was arrested inside his residence doubling as a drug den after selling to a PDEA agent, who acted as poseur-buyer, one plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu.

Seized from his possession were 10 big and small plastic sachet of suspected shabu, various drug paraphernalia and the marked bills used as buy-bust money.

Acaso will be facing charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II, of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.