Drug den in Cebu City dismantled; 5 nabbed

CEBU, Philippines —  Elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 arrested five drug suspects in a buy-bust operation that resulted into a dismantling of a drug den in Sitio Ponce 1, Barangay Carreta, Cebu City on Saturday evening.

The suspects were identified as Richard P. Cañete, 48, drug den maintainer and considered as high-value target and four drug den visitors, namely; Marites M. Banquicio, 38, unemployed; Alex M. Pardillo Jr., 39, electrician; Juanito A. Basiliote, 69, unemployed; and Emmanuel A. Maloloy-on, 29, construction worker.

Sixteen packs of suspected shabu weighing around 17 grams with an estimated market value of P115,600, buy-bust money, cash amounting to P210, and various drug paraphernalia were confiscated during the operation.

PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar-Alcantara said Cañete's drug den was located at the second floor of his own two-storey house with other rooms for rent located at the said barangay.

"According sa usa ka confidential informant nga taud-taud nani, pero on-off ang operasyon sa drug den," she said.

"Around two weeks gyud ang gi build-up sa PDEA-7 unit sa case kay kung naay bag-o mosulod sa drug den, moundang si Cañete kung dili siya kaila," she said.

The drug den maintainer, Cañete, was previously acquitted and then released in 2019 from a drug case.

The PDEA-7 said Cañete can dispose around 50 grams of shabu per week.

In addition, the PDEA-7 had dismantled two drug den this month, including one in Liloan in a joint operation with the Philippine National Police last Friday.

Cases for violation of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15 Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects. — Dominic I. Dilao, UV Intern, GMR (FREEMAN)