No bail for drug suspect

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Prosecutors Office has recommended no bail against a 61-year-old Australian national allegedly arrested with more than a kilo of shabu.

Prosecutor Simaco Labata held Dorotea Ausan Moyes, a native of Seriaga, Quezon, for trial for a violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, after finding probable cause.

The complaint filed by Senior Police Officer 3 Darius Dionysius Libanan said on January 27, 2018 around 10:30 a.m. security personnel of a hotel in Cebu City requested for assistance after a hotel guest later identified as Moyes was found crying.

Moyes alleged there was something in her bag and when verified, shabu weighing 1,124.21 grams was found. She was then arrested.

In her counter-affidavit, Moyes, a nursing assistant who arrived in Cebu last January 24 from Australia, claimed that the package was handed to her by a certain “Jude” who was sent by her friend Andrew Wood. She was supposed to meet Wood, whom she got to know only online, in Cebu.

The meeting was supposed to happen at Mango Avenue in Cebu City, but Wood allegedly cancelled their meeting in Cebu and instead told they would meet in Osaka, Japan, where Wood lived.

Moyes claimed she felt uneasy about the package and called the security personnel of the hotel she was staying.

Labata with the approval of City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas found probable cause that Moyes committed the crime charged.

Meanwhile, eight suspected drug personalities were apprehended in separate operations in Consolacion, Asturias, and Talisay City last Wednesday.

In Asturias, June Anthony Badili, 18; Johndil Banday, 30; and Jovel Aventuna, 24, all residents of Barangay Poblacion, Asturias, were arrested by the police after they were caught in the act of using shabu in Barangay Looc Norte.

Police Officer 3 Excel Aguanta of the Asturias police said that they received a report from a concerned citizen about what the suspects were doing. They recovered drug paraphernalia and small plastic packs with suspected shabu residue.

In Consolacion Jovanie Dumanog, 19; John Bendulo, 26; Pempem Dungog, 35; and Linsey Balverde Banzon were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in barangays Cansaga and Tugbongan, on Tuesday dawn.

In Talisay City, Glenn Reserva, 30, was also arrested by police in Barangay Tangke, on Wednesday evening.

Police were there to arrest a certain Welmer Oca for drug violations but failed to find him. When operatives where about to pull out, they crossed paths with Reserva and noticed him acting suspiciously.

They searched Reserva and found 15 small packs of suspected shabu on him. The suspected shabu weighed 1.5 grams and was estimated at P7,500. — Ermida Q. Moradas (FREEMAN)