Cops seize drugs hidden in burger

CEBU, Philippines — A man was arrested after he attempted to sneak shabu to his friend by hiding three packets of it in a burger while visiting the police station in Carmen town where his friend is detained.

The man was identified as Jeramie Capute Dayon, 30, a resident of Carmen.

Carmen Police Station chief Ramil Morpos said yesterday was the first time that Dayon visited his friend, Jilmer Into, 20.

Dayon reportedly acted suspiciously and when PO2 Stephen Baldolando checked the burger he was bringing, the cop found three packets of shabu inserted in the sandwich. The shabu confiscated weighed a total of .12 grams.

Morpos said Dayon and Into have been selling shabu together in Barangay Ipil, a mountain barangay in Carmen.

They reportedly sourced their supply of shabu from Danao City in northern Cebu.

They have reportedly been targets of two anti-drug operations but eluded arrest until Into was arrested in July this year.

"Naa mi nadawat nga report gikan sa bukid nga namaligya gyud na siya (Dayon) og drugs sa Ipil," Morpos said.

PO1 Roy Cabahug, desk officer at the Carmen Police Station, said Into could not be transferred to the provincial jail because the facility is already full.

Former dispatcher falls

Also yesterday in Cebu City, authorities at the Cebu South Bus Terminal arrested a former dispatcher after the latter was caught in possession of shabu.

Terminal Manager Jonathan Tumulak said the terminal’s civil security unit received a tip that someone was selling illegal drugs to drivers and conductors. Knowing that the suspect, Dominique Costillos Gonzaga, 37, has been suspected of selling illegal drugs in the past, security personnel approached him and asked him to go to Tumulak’s office. There, Gonzaga reportedly frisked himself voluntarily and it was found that he had six packets of shabu with him.

“Nasigpatan siya diha sa gawas ug giimbitar siya padung sa opisina. Sa dihang gipa-voluntary siya'g kapkap sa iyang kaugalingon, didto na nila nakit-an,” Tumulak said.

Tumulak said Gonzaga was not among the conductors, dispatchers, and drivers who underwent a drug testing in October.

Gonzaga is now under the custody of Carbon Police Station.

Mandaue

Meanwhile, in Mandaue City, authorities are keeping a close eye on three groups allegedly involved in the drug business in the city. These are the Sadaya drug group, Almaden drug group, JP Rosal drug group, and Loberanes drug group.

"Ato gihapon gibantayan ang upat ka grupo sa Mandaue City kay mao ra sila'y potential, hiron ni sila sa isa ka grupo ug maghasik ng lagim," said Mandaue Police Director Julian Entoma.

He said the leaders of these groups have been arrested but this, precisely, might be a reason for these groups to recruit more members.

"Kung imo makita mga karaan (nga miyembro), molaylo sila, mobiya, then mokuha gyod og bago nga mga miyembro," Entoma said.

Next steps

Police Regional Office-7 Director Debold Sinas said PRO-7 will confer with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on reports that illegal drugs in Cebu now also come from Lanao del Norte and Cagayan de Oro, aside from Manila.

He admitted that solving the illegal drug problem in Cebu is a challenge because there are many entry points around the province.

The steady supply of illegal drugs is also the reason why shabu here is cheaper, he said.

"Revelation sa kanang mga nadakpan nga daghan nang supply. Kinahanglan nang ipagawas ang supply para mabayaran ug mapadala na nila didto ang bayad sa Manila kung asa ilang source," Sinas said. (FREEMAN)