PDEG-7 intensifies monitoring of drug dens amid the pandemic

By: Mae Fhel Gom-os - 3 years ago

Police Major Alejandro Batobalanos, PDEG-7 deputy officer

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Another law enforcement group in Central Visayas has intensified its monitoring of the rampant operations of drug dens in the region.

The Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group in Central Visayas (PDEG-7) also noted that drug den operations have evolved due to the heightened quarantine restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police Major Alejandro Batobalanos, PDEG-7 deputy officer, made this statement following the arrest of five individuals in a buy-bust operation, which also resulted in the dismantling of a drug den in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City, on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.

The arrested suspects were identified as 18-year-old Yhen Mcllane Villalino; Kevinly Dayota Autida, 25; Ricky Giligan Manano, 45; Neil Anthony Cabillo Saragena, 33; and Uldarico Lariosa Cabarse, 58.

Batobalanos said the suspects were residents of Barangay San Nicolas and Barangay Ermita in Cebu City. But Cabarse was pointed out as the drug maintainer in the area.

Seized from them were at least 10 grams of illegal drugs.

Batobalanos said the operation was conducted after some neighbors of the drug maintainer have personally reported his illegal activity to their office.

According to the initial investigation, Batobalanos said Cabarse would allow his visitors to use his place to use illegal drugs for a fee of from P10 to P20 per visitor reportedly to sustain his medications.

Batobalanos said that unlike during the pre-pandemic, drug users now hold morning sessions to avoid curfew hours.

While admitting that illegal drug distribution is still rampant, he said drug users have shifted their operations to drug dens.

“Ang disposal nila is kadlawon until sa hapon, pag-abot og hapon mga 5 p.m, wala na sad sila’y disposal tungod sa pandemic…ang drug den nagkadaghan, daghang reklamo sa mga silingan kay mahadlok na sila,”said Batobalonos, stressing that their group is currently monitoring several suspected drug dens.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) has already dismantled 26 drug dens from January to August this year.

PDEA-7 Director Levi Ortiz earlier said that they are now focusing on the dismantling of drug dens in the region since these are usually the breeding ground of criminality.