5 nabbed in anti-drug operations

ZAMBOANGA - Government authorities have arrested five people and dismantled a drug den in separate antidrug operations in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, an official announced Wednesday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio identified the arrested suspects as the following: Agnes Pondo, 37; Cherry Manalibang, 29; Jimboy Pondo, 18; Rolando Balugay, 53; and, Abdal Mabol, 42.

Aspacio said that all except Mabol were arrested around 8:45 p.m., Monday, November 27, at Purok Reservoir in the village of Don Andres, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay that also resulted to the dismantling of a drug den.

Aspacio said the arresting team confiscated from the four suspects were 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as “shabu,” packed in four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets worth P50,000, P500 marked money and illegal-drug paraphernalia.

He said that cases for violations of Section 5 (Selling of Illegal Drugs), Section 6 (Maintenance of Den, Dive or Resort), Section 7 (Employees and Visitors of Den, Dive or Resort), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Section 12 (Possession of Equipment and Drug Paraphernalia) and Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs) of Article II of the Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against them.