PDEA agent, Army corporal nabbed in pot session

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Six persons, including an alleged agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and an Army corporal, were arrested for allegedly taking part in a drug session in this city on Thursday.

The suspects were identified as Dennis Mercado, 29, of PDEA-Region 13; Cpl. Phillip Michael Bunda, 30, of the 4th Infantry Division; tattoo artist Jude Pineda of Negros Occidental; truck driver Paderno Fang, 33; truck helper Kurt Oco, 25, and Charlotte Daanoy, 35.

City police chief Senior Inspector Carol Jabagat said the suspects were caught conducting a drug session at Daanoy’s house in Barangay Bancasi.

Jabagat said a team of police officers went to Daanoy’s house to serve a warrant for his arrest for estafa.

Mercado and Bunda denied they were sniffing shabu, saying they were in the area to get tattoos.