Ex-men’s magazine model nabbed in drug sting

MANILA, Philippines — A former model of a men’s magazine and her alleged supplier were arrested in separate drug busts in Pasay City and Taytay, Rizal on Wednesday.

Charlene Mecayer, alias Cindy, was caught with 11 sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P68,000, an ecstasy tablet, drug paraphernalia and marked money, police said.

She was arrested in a sting at her apartment in Greenwood Executive Village in Barangay Sta. Ana, Taytay at around 4:30 p.m.  

Her alleged supplier, Emily Patanao, 60, was arrested in a followup operation along EDSA in Barangay Malibay, Pasay at around 10:30 p.m.

Fifty grams of shabu with a street value of P340,000, marked money and a cell phone were confiscated from Patanao.

Gregorio Pimentel, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) deputy director general for operations, alleged that Mecayer sold illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia on online shopping platforms and her social media accounts.

Pimentel said the former freelance model had other “beautiful people,” including models and celebrities, as her clients but declined to identify them.

Mecayer is on the drug watchlist of the PDEA’s Special Enforcement Service while Patanao was arrested over 30 years ago on drug charges and two of her children are in jail for similar charges, Pimentel said.

Also in Pasay, Jomark Andres, 29, was caught with around 32.6 grams of shabu valued at P221,680 in a motel room before dawn yesterday.

In Manila, alleged drug courier Kevin Jason and three others were arrested in separate stings yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas presented Jason at the Ermita police station, which staged the stings, yesterday.

Sinas declined to name the three other suspects as operations are ongoing.

He said at least 1.025 kilos of shabu valued at P6.97 million and hidden in a pack of “Guanyinwang Refined Chinese Tea,” were confiscated from Jason and the three suspects.

Elaine Cipriano, 32, was arrested in a sting at a mall in Muntinlupa City before dawn yesterday. Police seized 25 grams of shabu with a street value of P170,000 from her.

Randy Placido, George Solano, Elbert Dagooc and Peter Junio were caught in an alleged drug den with 18.55 grams of shabu valued at P126,140 in Taguig City on Wednesday.

Paul Decena, Wilfredo Verzosa, John Erick Pedelino and Abegail Torres were caught with 1.5 kilos of marijuana leaves in Caloocan on Wednesday night. Police said they were selling marijuana through a social media site.

Eleven more persons were arrested during anti-drug operations in Mandaluyong, Marikina and Pasig and P150,000 worth of shabu seized from them, police said.