Nabbed user says shabu relieves his asthma

“Hubakon man gud ko, kung dili ko kasuyop, maluya ko dili ko kakarga. Maayo usab akong ubo.”

This was the reason given by Ricardo “Bonjong” Reyes Jr. on why he’s a drug addict.

Reyes, a porter at the Tabunok Public Market in Talisay City, was arrested by police conducting a surveillance operation inside the Barangay Poblacion Public Cemetery early morning yesterday.

Police Officer 3 Junyl Ater of Talisay City Police Station said that they spotted Reyes slowly trying to distance himself from them. Operatives approached him and did a body search.

Reyes attempted to throw the packs of shabu he was carrying behind his back but police caught him in the act and he was handcuffed.

Six small packs of suspected shabu worth P1,800 were recovered from his possession.

In an interview, Reyes admitted he has been sniffing illegal drugs for quite some time. He explained that shabu served as his vitamins and helps him lift heavy loads despite his asthma.

JUST AN EXCUSE

Department of Health – 7 Medical Officer Dr. Dino Caing believes that Reyes was only making an excuse for using illegal drugs, saying this is the first time he’s ever heard asthma used as an excuse for a drug habit.

Caing said that shabu has no therapeutic effects but, to the contrary, is a psychotic drug that brings no good benefits for the body.

“Shabu is not a medicine, it is addicting. It’s the mind playing games in yourself. Mayroong distortion sa thought or perception niya kaya feel niya lumalakas siya. That’s caused by the drugs. Yung iba feeling nila healthy sila, it will also keep them awake, very strong and others also experience extreme happiness,” Caing explained.

Caing said using illegal drugs will not cure asthma but will worsen it instead.

“Yang shabu we inhale that so talagang mas makakasama sa kanya. It will only worsen yung asthma niya kasi mapapagod yung pulmonary niya,” he said.

Doctor Caing handles the drug surrenderees and conducts intervention and rehabilitation programs for the DOH-7.

OTHER ARRESTS

In Cebu City, eleven alleged drug personalities were arrested during foot patrol conducted by San Nicolas police who also confiscated P300,000 worth of suspected shabu in two separate operations in Barangay Calamba and Barangay Pasil, Cebu City on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Arrested in A. Lopez Street, Barangay Calamba were Khenny Wowie Osmeña, 39; Ringo Reyes, 44; Elmer Piloton, 38; Geimar Oliverio, 38; Ray Gonzales, 32; Riczen Balame, 29; and Kie Tayona, 21.

Police Chief Inspector Keith Andaya, chief of San Nicolas Police Station, identified Osmeña and Reyes as high-value targets. They have conducted operations for their arrest in the past, but the two have always managed to elude arrest.

Police operatives seized from the suspects more than 20 grams of suspected shabu valued at P243,080 as well as a .38 caliber pistol.

In Sitio Lawis, Barangay Pasil on Friday morning, a senior citizen allegedly selling shabu was nabbed together with her son and two customers.

Evangeline Oyao, 64, said she had stopped selling shabu before and just went back to selling last week.

“Di gyud unta ko mahibaw-an. Naa lang gyuy traydor nga silingan. Porsyento ra gyud ko. Pait man gyud kaayo kay ang mga minyo ari man nako tanan asta akong mga apo,” said Evangeline.

Also arrested was Evangeline’s son, Jhon Lyster Oyao, 22, as well as two of their customers, Glenn Aying, 42 and Juscar Laraño, 31.

The operatives confiscated a total of 90 small sachets and one medium pack of suspected shabu worth P99,928.

According to Evangeline, she gets her supply of illegal drugs from Barangay Ermita.

San Nicolas police station conducted the operations in line with Cebu City Police Office’s Oplan Pokemon program.

In Minglanilla, the town’s third most wanted criminal was arrested in Sitio Proper, Barangay Pakigne on Thursday evening.

Police served a warrant of arrest on Lester “Bosyong” Cañedo, 24, a resident of Sitio Common, Barangay Cuanos, Minglanilla.

Cañedo has been wanted by police in connection with the death of Arnulfo Lariosa back in May 2017. Cañedo has also been linked to the illegal drug trade.

According to SPO4 Edgar Belisco, Cañedo shot Lariosa several times after the latter failed to remit the proceeds of their illegal drug trade.

Lariosa did not recover from his wounds and died at the hospital a month later. Before his death, he was able to tell police that it was Cañedo who shot him.

A certain Ramon “Botyok” Sanchez was also named as Cañedo’s accomplice in the ambush.

Reports reveal that Sanchez is not in Cebu.