4 fall in hotel raid; P2.8 million drugs seized

CEBU, Philippines — Illegal drugs worth almost P3 million were seized by the police during a raid on a hotel in Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City past midnight on Wednesday.

The police also arrested four suspects who were identified as Maryjane Lipitin Dequitos, Jhon Frye Tapales, Geramae Niala, and Carlton Estrera. 

Chief Inspector Eduard Sanchez, chief of Abellana Police Station, said that a roving cop first spotted Niala trying to persuade a foreigner to buy shabu. The police accosted her. Niala confessed that she sourced her supply from Deguitos, who was staying in a nearby hotel.

A buy-bust operation was hatched resulting in the subsequent arrest of Deguitos, Tapales and Estrera. According to Sanchez, Tapales was caught repacking shabu inside Dequitos’ room while Estrera was arrested outside the hotel also pushing drugs for Dequitos.

The police seized nine large packs of shabu and three medium packs weighing a total of 240 grams. It was estimated to be worth P2.8 million.

Dequitos denied selling drugs. According to her, she was only visiting a friend in the hotel when the police arrested them.

“Dili to akoa, niadto ra ko kay naa ko bisitahon, wala ko kahibaw ngano naa drugs didto nakuha,” Dequitos said.

The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.

The operation was considered the second biggest drug haul for the week. Last Tuesday, operatives of Pari-an Police Station also seized P1.7 million worth of drugs.

Cebu City Police Office director Sr. Supt. Royina Garma believes that the drug supply recently seized in Cebu are part of the P11 billion drug shipment from China that slipped past the Bureau of Customs.

Garma said that since Wednesday, they have conducted 19 police operations and made 28 arrests. She said a total of P5.2 million worth of illegal drugs were also confiscated.

“Kaya kahit napakaraming huli, pareha pa rin yung presyo, maraming druga nag nasa island, ang tingin ko nga dito it has something to do sa drugs na nailusot galing sa Manila because kung titingnan ang quality it is similar to the color,” she said.

Garma said they are expecting drug traders to be more aggressive now because of the incoming Christmas.

“What is December? Maraming party so kailangan ng pera, kailangan magbenta para kumita, kasi kailangan bilhan ng bagong damit ang anak, kailangan masarap na pagkain ng pamilya, lahat yan economics,” she said. — FPL (FREEMAN)