Sinas defends seizure of ‘shabu queen’s’ properties without a court order

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Chief Debold Sinas said the seizure of suspected drug dealer Jocelyn Encila’s properties was legitimate since these are part of the evidence against Cebu’s “shabu queen.”

The PRO 7, he said, will coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Council on their next move against Encila, who was able to buy expensive cars and jewelry even if she was unemployed.

Three vehicles—a Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Grandia and Nissan SR SUV—and a jewelry set were seized along with 10 kilos of “shabu” worth P68 million from Encila’s house in Barangay Casili, Consolacion.

Encila reportedly owns two big houses that have centralized airconditioning units in the subdivision.

Sinas doubted Encila’s capability to acquire such expensive possessions as she only sold halo-halo before her arrest.

The police official said they do not need a court order to confiscate the properties as they want to know who the real owner is.

“We’ll just check ownership because in the first place, we have an anti-fencing law. Second, she claimed it was pawned to her, so where are the receipts or document showing it was a pawned item? Third, do you have the capacity to own this one?” Sinas said.

He further said the vehicles and jewelry are part of the evidence against Encila, which they will return if the Encilas can prove that these were acquired legally.

Sinas said if the investigation proves that the possessions of the Encilas were purchased using drug money, these will be confiscated in favor of the government.

In a Balitang Bisdak report, Encila denied the allegations against her, saying Elymar Ancajas owned the illegal drugs. She said she knew Ancajas as the latter often visited her in Casili.

Ancajas was arrested in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City and yielded P122.4 million worth of shabu four hours before Encila’s arrest early Sunday morning, March 3.

He told the police he sourced his supply from Encila, prompting the operatives to launch an operation against her in Casili.

Encila said the house and the vehicles were purchased by her sister who had married a foreigner and is now living in the United States.

“Wala gyud koy labot ana, labi na ni ako Mama ug Papa. Giangin na lang ko ana. Wala man na nakuha sa among balay... Ang balay sa akong igsuon nga mouli man gani to kay nasuko (I’m not involved in this, especially my parents. I was just dragged into it. The evidence was not seized from our house... The house is owned by my sister, who is upset and flying home because of this),” Encila said.

The police’s monitoring showed that Encila’s supply came from Luzon. Her former live-in partner Rustico Ygot, an inmate of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, allegedly facilitated the transport of the contraband to Cebu.

Ygot was caught in a drug bust in 2016 and he was brought to the Bilibid after his conviction in the same year.

The illegal drugs were often transported through the Ro-ro sea vessel. The courier would deliver the supply directly to Encila’s house.

The police said that 40 kilos of shabu arrived in Encila’s residence last December. Encila allegedly only distributed 18 kilos to Cebu City.

At the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), investigators said they had been monitoring Encila since last year.

Col. Julian Entoma, the MCPO director, said the anti-narcotics operatives started to monitor her activities after receiving information on her involvement in drug trafficking.

The suspect reportedly refused to sell shabu in small batches while she was in Mandaue City, according to Entoma.

Encila lived in a house in Barangay Labogon before she transferred to a subdivision in Casili.

“Jocelyn lived a simple life in Labogon. Her parents ran a small store and sold spices,” Entoma said.

Encila’s life in Casili, however, was different, based on a police report.

Entoma, quoting an intelligence report, said several closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were found in Encila’s house in Casili.

Entoma admitted that his investigators would have a hard time in tracing Encila’s business ties as the suspect often used her underlings to distribute shabu to their customers in Mandaue City, Cebu City and other places.