In Cebu City and Mandaue City 4 bars selling Ecstasy

CEBU, Philippines — Police said based on their intelligence gathering, it appears the party drug Ecstasy is being sold in at least four bars in Cebu City and Mandaue City.

“Even though it is rare, it is present, and we are working to control proliferation,” said Senior Superintendent Remos Medina, the chief of Police Regional Office-7 Intelligence Division, in a press interview.

Medina also told reporters that the matrix of party drugs in Cebu shows a female boss on top of things. Six direct contacts of the Ecstasy matrix are out on bail, while one is at large.

One of the suppliers has also been arrested; Neil Benjamin Yap on January 11, 2018, who said he sourced his supply from another arrested suspect, Richard Go.

Another direct contact was Alimodin Didatoon, who was arrested last January 20, 2018 and is currently detained at the Cebu City Jail.

“Meron nang matrix na nabuo galing ito sa mga suspects na nahuli last 2017, may mga arrested tayo and some of them are on bail and ‘yun ang linya na tinitingnan natin,” Medina said.

Included in the matrix was Mandaue City bar owner Kenneth Dong, who was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-7, for his participation in the P6.4-billion drug entrapment operation in Luzon.

Medina said the bar he co-owned, LIV Super Club, will be monitored, but not closed.

“Now that Kenneth Dong is arrested, ang LIV babantayan natin. We cannot close the bar, we don’t have the legal basis,” Medina said.

Medina said that for now, Ecstasy is sold to the elite class, as it is pricier compared to shabu. Shabu cost about P600 per sachet while a pack of Ecstasy pills can cost up to P2,000.

He said that PRO-7 is coordinating, with operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 to secure the bars and prevent other party-goers from using Ecstasy.

“We have coordination with PDEA, magiging visible sila sa bars na we suspect, na para ang party-goers or bar enthusiasts ma-aware sila na may nagbabantay, para deterrent na rin,” Medina said.

The party drug Ecstasy hogged the headlines after the death of 19-year old medical student Ashley Abad who overdosed on the drug during a pre-Sinulog party, and the seizure of Ecstasy pills worth P25,500 from a call center agent last February 7. — BRP (FREEMAN)