A couple was arrested in a raid yesterday morning in barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City for allegedly possessing shabu estimated to worth P.5 million as well as high-powered firearms and explosives.
Aldrin Potot, 33, and his wife Farah, 32, were arrested a day after celebrating the eighth birthday of their youngest son.
Members of the City Intelligence Branch led by Insp. Judith Besas with elements from the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) served the search warrant issued by Judge Teresita Galanida.
Also arrested were Rey Ann Ginguyon, 24, and Eduardo Macayan, 28, who were in the couple’s residence during the raid.
Seized during the raid were three big packs and 38 small packs of white crystalline powder believed to be shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, empty plastic sachets for repacking shabu, three rolls of aluminum tin foil, a KG9 firearm with silencer and ammunition, a .45 caliber pistol with several ammunition, a .38 revolver, a hand grenade, .22 caliber ammunition, a digital weighing scale, a sealer and P9,000 cash believed to be proceeds of selling shabu.
Besas said Aldrin has been under surveillance for weeks.
At around 5 a.m. yesterday, the team entered their residence by using a bolt cutter to open the padlock of the gate. They then barged into main door while the suspects were still sleeping.
The operation was witnessed by barangay councilor Jeffrey Pongasi and members of the media.
Potot admitted he owns the drugs and the guns but he said the KG9 was just pawned by a friend.
Potot, however, denied ownership of the hand grenade.
He also accused the police of taking his wife’s cash amounting to P57,000, the proceeds of her RTW business.
But Senior Supt. Armando Radoc, OIC Police Director of Lapu-Lapu City, denied the allegations saying the search was witnessed by a barangay official and the media.
The couple has three children and Besas brought them to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office as no one was left in the house to take care of them.
But Farah is calling on her relatives to take the children.
In Cebu City, an American national and two others including one who is wanted for robbery were arrested for allegedly sniffing shabu in a pension house in downtown Cebu City yesterday morning.
Thomas Clark Redenius, 49, was arrested with Rna-Laun Lastimoso, 30, and Alexander Lastimoso, 32.
SPO3 Antonio Barade of Carbon Police Station said a team from their station was looking for Alexander who has an arrest warrant for robbery issued by RTC Branch 23 Judge Generoso Labra.
Prior to their arrest, Alexander was seen in the area prompting the police to immediately launch an operation.
When they checked the room where Alexander checked in, they caught him with Renedius and Rna-Laun allegedly sniffing shabu.
They are now detained at the Carbon Police Station while charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared against them.
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