P21.2M drugs flushed in toilet

CEBU, Philippines - About P21.2 million worth of shabu were disposed yesterday at the Regional Trial Court Branch 15.

The illegal drugs were evidence of the various cases decided by Judge  Samuel Malazarte.

Malazarte said that disposal of the evidence is part of the procedure that every court follows in illegal drug cases. This is to avoid possible recycling of drugs in the market.

The evidence was destroyed by pouring it into a water container before flushing down the drain.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 Director Julius Navales said the evidence destroyed yesterday weigh 2.87 kilos and have a street value of about P21.2 million. There were also drug paraphernalia and “budol” money that were burned.

The 2.87 kilos of shabu were the evidence in eight drug cases already decided by Malazarte. Of the eight cases only one was convicted.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday filed criminal charges in court against Francisco “Boyet” Ariva, Jerry Bugtai and Elvira Manlasi.

Manlasi was charged for violation of Sections 11 and 12 of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act; Bugtai was charged with illegal possession of firearms and Sections 11 and 12 of RA 9165, Avira was charged with direct assault and illegal possession of firearms.

Bugtai and Manlasi were arrested during a raid conducted by the joint operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force and Provincial Intelligence Branch in Barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion last March 21. Avira was arrested later during a follow-up operation.

The operation resulted in a shootout that killed Vicente Judaya, Ian Siacol, Jerson Resme, and Rene Boy Tarriao, all residents of the said barangay.

Seized during the operation were five guns, three hand grenades, assorted bullets, assorted empty shells, several packs of shabu estimated to worth P300,000, drugs paraphernalia and P7,560 cash. — (FREEMAN)