CEBU, Philippines — A couple and another individual spent their Valentine’s Day inside the jail after they were busted for peddling illegal drugs on Valentine's Day at Sitio Upper Cogon in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.
Arrested were live-in partners Arvin Arbon, 28, and Mary Ann Sirad, 30, with their visitor Niño Quijano, 33.
They were nabbed in a joint buy-bust operation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 and the Punta Princesa Police Station.
PDEA-7 Information Officer Leia Alcantara said the three were nabbed inside their alleged drug den around 1:30 p.m. last Tuesday.
Based on their initial investigation, Arbon served as the drug den's maintainer while his partner Sirad was one of his drug den employees.
Seized from the suspects were eight packs of suspected shabu weighing 12 grams with an estimated market value of P81,600, buy-bust money, and other drug paraphernalia.
Alcantara said the two were reported to them by a confidential informant, and it took them almost a month to gather enough pieces of evidence for their case build-up.
Though they were unable to identify their distribution areas yet, Alcantara said the couple could dispose about 30 to 50 grams of shabu per week.
The suspects will face charges for violating Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, and 12 of Article II of the Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
COSAP Monitors
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) continues to monitor those who have completed the community-based drug rehab program (CBDRP) to ensure its full recovery.
In 2022, there were over 3,000 drug surrenderees who had completed the program, majority of them did not return to their old vices.
"Dunay uban kanila nga makasinati daw og gitawag nga 'cravings' pero kasagaran gyud sa mga nigradwar sa CBDRP kay naa na gyud sa saktong dalan. Kini atong gibuhat kay para man sad sa ilang kaayohan ug alang usab sa ilang pamilya,” said COSAP Head Jonah John Rodriguez.
Another intervention will be made should some of the program completers return to illegal drugs.
“Atoa gihapon na sila na seminaron hangtod nga mobiya na gyud na sila sa ilang bisyo. Dili na lang unta nato huwaton nga maabot pa sa punto nga masulod sila sa prisohan o ba kaha maabtan sa pinusilay,simbako. Naningkamot gyud ang COSAP nga mobiya na gyud sila sa dautang bisyo,” said Rodriguez.
He also hopes that the number of those that got addicted anew will not increase and all the rest will try their best to fully recover and start to build a better life.
COSAP is also facilitating rehab sessions for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
COSAP is willing to help anyone should the need arise and avoid ending up in jail.
Rodriguez said COSAP has well-trained facilitators/coaches who are all willing to help.
COSAP, together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police, keeps on pushing for a drug-free city and citizenry. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol, Sanden Anadia, GAN (FREEMAN)