Man nabbed for drugs in MCIA

CEBU, Philippines — Not one month after it started operations, a man was arrested at the Terminal 2 of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport yesterday morning for allegedly possessing drug paraphernalia. 

Jonathan Pizzaro Sanoy, 35, was apprehended around 6:58 a.m. by the personnel from Aviation Security Group (ASG)-7 after they received a report from one of the security screening officers on duty at the time. He was scheduled to fly for Narita, Japan.

Butch Montenegro, assistant of the Interdiction Unit of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 said they seized an improvised glass tubing, a lighter, and a red container from the luggage of Sanoy, who was heading back to work on a cruise ship in Seattle, USA, after staying in Cebu for a three-month vacation.

Prior to the confiscation, the items were seen in the X-ray machine operated by security screening officer Desiderio Medalle in Level 3 of the new terminal.

It was the lighter that was first seen; when he asked Sanoy about it the latter denied carrying one and also acted "uncomfortable."

Doubting his response, Medalle called the ASG to inspect his luggage which resulted in the confiscation of the illegal items.

Police Officer 2 Ernesto Fernandez of ASG-7 said Sanoy is currently under the custody in the airport police and will be turned over to the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.

Sanoy will face complaints for violation of Section 12 (possession of equipment and drug paraphernalia) of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

This is the first incident involving drugs that happened in the new airport terminal which just formally opened last July 1.

Meanwhile, drugs worth P194,700 was seized in anti-illegal drug operations in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, around 9 a.m. last Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Wayne Magbanua of the Mactan Police Station 2 said the items were confiscated from Jose Augusto, 46, of Sitio Datag in the said barangay via implementation of a search warrant issued by Judge Victor Teves of 7th Judicial Region, Branch 54 of the Lapu-Lapu City Hall of Justice.

Nine small sachets and two medium packs of suspected shabu weighing around 16.5 grams were confiscated from him.

Police also found a .38 cal. revolver loaded with two live rounds reportedly owned by the suspect, Magbanua said. The suspect is now detained in LCPO holding cell and is facing charges for drugs and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. — BRP (FREEMAN)