Man Indicted for using inn as ‘drug den’

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office has indicted a man for allegedly maintaining a drug den inside an inn in Cebu City.

Prosecutor II Maria Lourdes Bragat-Quilitorio found evidence to charge Ralph Vilocura with violations of the Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

No bail is recommended for Vilocura’s temporary freedom.

Vilocura was arrested in one of the two rooms of an inn along Don Gil Garcia Street he rented and reportedly used as drug dens during a buy-bust operation conducted by the operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 last June 1.

He was also caught in the act of selling and possessing sachets of suspected shabu weighing 8.6 grams worth P17,000.

In the inquest proceeding, Vilocura chose not to undergo preliminary investigation to file a counter-affidavit to answer the allegations filed against him. Instead, he manifested to face the charges in court.

Prior to the operation, the PDEA-7 received information of the alleged illegal activities of Vilocura.

On the other hand, at least 10 alleged drug personalities were also indicted for visiting Vilocura’s drug dens.

The accused are Rae Martin Cinco, Jaymar Geloca, Melba Maglinte, Rhea Calvo, William James Fernandez, Reygielyn Ann Bonjoc, Marlon Custodio, Gretel Buyco, Renevic Jao, and Daisy Tee.

However, Custodio, Tee and Maglinte were also charged with illegal possession of dangerous drugs after PDEA agents recovered from their possession packs of suspected shabu weighing 10.0897 grams, 5.4723 grams, and 1.4744 grams, respectively.

Quilitorio has recommended P200,000 bail for each accused, except for Custodio and Tee.

Since the illegal drugs taken from Custodio and Tee were more than five grams, the case is non-bailable. —/KBQ (FREEMAN)