7 arrested in Ermita for “sniffing shabu”

CEBU, Philippines - Police officers who were conducting preventive patrol arrested seven persons, including two minors, for illegal drugs past midnight on Friday in Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

Armando Primacio, 42; Henry Baydal, 34; Narciso Dilla, 25; John Carl Padilla, 25; Warren Daomani, 21; and two minors, were arrested by the police who chanced upon them sniffing shabu in a house at Sitio Bato.

Police Officer 3 Antonio Aliser Tejero of Carbon Police Station said he and three other police officers conducted an "intensified roving patrol against all forms of criminalities," past midnight on Friday.

While they were walking in a dark alley in Sitio Bato, they noticed several people inside one of the houses in the area.

They looked inside and saw the suspects allegedly sniffing shabu.  They introduced themselves as police officers and apprehended the seven.

Out of the seven arrested, two of them are minors and are both Badjaos from Barangay Mambaling.

The police recovered six packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia from the suspects. 

In an interview, The FREEMAN asked the minors if they were sniffing shabu. The two declined to comment, but somehow managed to smile.

When asked of their educational attainment, one of them said he was only grade five while the other one could not remember going to school.

One said he cannot remember what day he was born, but he knew that he was 16-years-old.

Tejero said that the arrest should send a message to everyone in Barangay Ermita that the police mean business.

The suspects were brought to the police station and will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  (FREEMAN)