ORMOC CITY– Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) dismantled a suspected drug den and arrested three individuals during a buy-bust operation on March 28 at around 11:25 pm in Barangay 62, Tacloban City.
PDEA Region 8 Director III Bryan Babang identified the arrested individuals as alias “Niko” (maintainer), alias “Taloy” (employee), and alias “Carding” (visitor), all legal-age, married, and residents of the area.
The operation targeted “Niko,” from whom an undercover agent purchased a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500.
A subsequent search, conducted in the presence of mandated witnesses, led to the recovery of five additional sachets of the white crystalline substance, weighing approximately 10.19 grams with an estimated street value of P69,292. Authorities also confiscated assorted drug paraphernalia.
The suspects were informed of their rights under the Miranda Doctrine in a language they understood before being taken into custody.
They now face charges for violating Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. They are currently detained at the PDEA detention facility in Palo, Leyte.
(ROBERT DEJON)
