14 fall in drug den raids in Pangasinan

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) apprehended 14 suspected drug den operators and pushers during a series of raids on five houses in Dagupan City, Pangasinan last Tuesday.

Nabbed during the anti-drugs operation in Sitio Aling, Barangay Pantal were Joenas Garcia, 37; Arvin Siapo, 27; Manilyn Santos, 24; Mark Cariño, 21; Nilo Malasan, 28; Jony Achivida; Joselo Siapo, 51; Nelson Tagulao, 39; Ronie Pugal, 41; Johndy Zamora, 21; Rodolfo Ortiz, 26; Jeffrey de Guzman, 26; Roldan Tapang, 18; and a 17-year-old minor.

However, suspected drug den owners, Jimmy Cayabyab and couple Mads and Felizidad de Verra, were not around during the raids.

Members of the raiding team seized 86 plastic sachets of of shabu, weighing around 15 grams worth almost P35,000, various drug paraphernalia and cash in various denominations which are believed to be proceeds from the suspects' illegal drug trade.

Garcia, Siapo and Santos will be charged with violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Garcia also faces an additional charge for violation of Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den) before a local court.

A case will also be filed against Cariño, Malasan, Achivida, Joselo Siapo, Tagulao, and Pugal, for violation of Section 7 (Visitors of a Drug Den) of RA 9165.