CEBU, Philippines — Six male students from two schools, two of whom are minors, were taken into police custody after they were caught in a marijuana session at the back of the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday afternoon.
Chief Insp. Maria Theresa Macatangay, chief of the Abellana Police Station, said it was a concerned citizen who tipped the police of the session.
The Abellana Police Station is located just a stone throw away from the sports center.
"Reaction ni based sa report sa concerned citizen. Resulta ni sa participation sa komunidad sa pagbantay sa palibot. Very alarming lang kay estudyante man gud," Macatangay said.
The six students were caught while still in uniform.
Cops recovered a stem of marijuana and a bottle of marijuana blossoms from the group.
The Freeman is withholding the names of the 17-year-old minors. Those of legal were identified by the police as Angelo Nocus Tanud-tanud, 19; Clark Tumakay Deiparine, 19; Kurt John Inalem Rizon, 18; and Mark Daniel Estrera Gonzelvo, 18.
One of the 17-year-olds told The Freeman they knew each other only recently and decided to meet up on their lunch break. He did not disclose how and where they got the marijuana.
“Mana man amo klase. Nagkita-kita lang gyud mi didto," he said.
He apologized to his parents and said he regrets what he got himself into. He said he wants to be a policeman in the future.
"Nagbasol gyud ko sa akong gibuhat, pero unsaon man nga ila na man gyud mi prisohon," he said.
Macatangay said the minors will be placed at Operation Second Chance, a facility for juvenile suspects. They will be included in the charges for possession of illegal substance if they will issue a certificate of discernment through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Macatangay believes the schools and the students’ parents are not liable for what happened.
"I don't see any lapse sa side sa school kay mana man accordingly ang klase; same sa mga parents," she said.
Dr. Bianito Dagatan, Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent, said the incident should be a wakeup call for schools to strengthen their anti-illegal drugs campaign.
He urged schools to organize regular symposia and invite experts to talk about the topic. He also urged them to post more advocacy materials and even to integrate discussions into appropriate subject areas.
Other arrests
Also yesterday afternoon, the Abellana police arrested a Taiwanese national and his supposed courier with 7.78 grams of shabu worth P91,804 and cash amounting to at least P20,000.
The suspects were identified as Chien Lung Tseng, 49, and Jimmy Gallardo, 29.
Macatangay said the suspect had foreign clients and Tseng acted as a tourist guide. The Abellana police monitored the suspects only recently.
The two men are facing charges with information about the Taiwanese suspects already forwarded to the police’s intelligence division, which will channel the same to the Taiwanese embassy.
Prior to yesterday’s operations, a string of anti-drug operations in Cebu City generated shabu worth over P9.3 million in less than 24 hours.
At the Carreta Cemetery Tuesday night, elements of the City Drug Enforcement Unit and City Intelligence Branch arrested one Joel Castro, 44, and confiscated from him 19 medium packs of shabu worth P5,605,000.
Police kept an eye on Castro following the arrest of Catalino Oliveros Jr, in Barangay San Nicolas on Tuesday afternoon. Oliveros’ arrest yielded drugs worth P3.5 million. Oliveros is allegedly connected to the right hand of the slain drug lord Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz.
Cebu City Police Director, Senior Supt. Joel Doria, said Castro who also worked as a tombstone maker, used his job as a front and stay away from police radar.
Meanwhile, in an operation in Barangay Inayawan, police arrested three suspects and confiscated shabu worth P212,400.
The suspects were identified as Efren Reyes, Ana Marie Languido, and Vincent Cabillon. Police also recovered a .38 snub nose revolver with five live ammunitions.
In another operation in Barangay Tejero, authorities arrested Elyn Villasura, 23, and seized from her 1.5 grams of shabu worth P17,700. (FREEMAN)