Drug ring member, 4 others arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Five suspected drug pushers, including a 55-year-old female member of a drug ring operating in Central Visayas, were arrested in successive operation jointly conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 and the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group-7 since Saturday.

  Rosalia Arabis alias Saling, resident of Barangay Calamba, Cebu City, was arrested yesterday morning during a buy-bust operation. Anti-narcotics operatives seized three packs of shabu weighing five grams with an estimated value of P18,000 from the suspect.

Also recovered from her possession was the P500 marked money used in the operation.

PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar said Arabis is a member of a big drug syndicate in Central Visayas and is allegedly one of their priority targets. Albiar said Arabis can dispose 50 to 100 grams of shabu every week.

Albiar, however, refused to divulge the drug syndicate where Arabis is reportedly a member of because of a pending follow up operation.

Arabis will be charged for violations of Sections 5 (selling of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

On Saturday, the same joint operatives arrested Jerry Lim, 44; Mark Lim, 42; Alexander Go, 52; and Fernando Go, 45, during a raid at F. Ramos Street, Cebu City.

Anti-narcotics agents raided the house occupied by the suspects based on a search warrant issued by the court.

Seized from the suspects were five packs of shabu weighing approximately 70 grams with street value of P252,000 and several drugs paraphernalia. Jerry, who was the subject of the search warrant, will be facing charges for violation of Sections 6 (maintenance of a drug den), 11 (possession of illegal drugs), and 12 (possession of paraphernalia) while the other three suspects will be charged for visiting a drug den. (FREEMAN)