Philippine News Agency • May 20, 2020
'Drug den' dismantled, 6 nabbed in GenSan drug bust
DISMANTLED. Six suspected drug users and pushers are arrested by a team of operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 12 (Soccsksargen) and the General Santos City Police Office in a sting operation in Yu Village, Barangay Apopong on Tuesday afternoon (May 19, 2020). The operation resulted in the dismantling of an alleged drug den and the recovery of PHP102,000 worth of suspected shabu. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-12)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Authorities dismantled another drug den and arrested six alleged shabu pushers and users in an operation in a village here on Tuesday afternoon.
Naravy Duquiatan, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 12 (Soccsksargen) director, said Wednesday the drug den was discovered during an entrapment in a rented house in Yu Village, Barangay Apopong at past 2 p.m.
Duquiatan said the buy-bust targeted suspected pusher Rey Ortiz alias “Mata”, 59, who was listed as a high-value target drug personality.
During the operation, she said elements of PDEA-12 and city police station 02 discovered that the suspect was using the rented house as a drug den.
“He was under close surveillance for several months and was eventually included in our target list due to the extent of his illegal activities,” Duquiatan said in a statement.
Also arrested at the scene were Michael Ritch Caballes, 28; Danilo Guinto, 55; Mariel Fernandez, 20; Kent George Tablac, 33; and Kevin Tablac, 38. The Tablac brothers owned the house rented by Ortiz.
Recovered at the scene were two sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 15 grams with an estimated street value of PHP102,000; assorted drug paraphernalia; empty plastic sachets placed inside a pencil case; and a cash deposit slip amounting to PHP104,000.
Duquiatan said the investigation was ongoing regarding the other cohorts of Ortiz and the possible involvement of five other suspects in illegal drug activities.
She said the suspects, who were detained at the PDEA-12 lockup here, would face multiple charges for violation of Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
