Cops looking for owner of house with shabu stash

CEBU, Philippines — The police are now looking for the owner of the house in Barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City, which was used to store the P47.6 million worth of shabu seized in an operation last Friday night.

Senior Superintendent Remos Medina, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division, who led the operation against Charlie Duhaylungsod Fortuna, 24, said that Fortuna, along with the owner, bought the house for P13 million in cash in 2017.

He said they were able to trace the suspects through the power bill issued to the house, but Medina said the identity of the house owner will be kept confidential in order not to hamper the operations.

“Makikita mo sa electric bills. They will be invited for questioning, if they are connected, including na din duon sa engineer,” Medina said.

He said that Fortuna belonged to drug group based in Ozamiz City. He did not discount the possibility that it was the Parojinog group, but this is still not definite.

The Parojinog group is blamed for orchestrating various rogue dealings in Ozamiz City from illegal drugs to robbery.

“Hindi malayo na posibilidad but as of the moment wala pa kaming definite lead, we will check and establish links,” Medina said.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Police Regional Office-7 director, said in a separate interview that it is also possible the bulk of drugs being distributed and intercepted by policemen are connected with the upcoming May elections.

However, in the same manner, they have no links to establish the possibility yet.

“Una, kanang supply of shabu has always been there, siguro nga, but we cannot say definitely, if kaning nakuha na shabu has something to do with the election, kay wala pa namo na-link,” Sinas said.

Fortuna yielded seven packs of shabu in a buy-bust operation that began in Plaza Independencia, Cebu City, and ended in the house in Barangay Cubacub. (FREEMAN)