Two drug suspects charged; police probe their Cebu ties

THE businessman  and his female companion who were arrested in Quezon City while boarding an SUV that carried  45 kilos of shabu were charged on Friday with violation of anti-drug laws.

Police in Metro Manila are coordinating with counterparts in Region 7 to check the background of 54-year-old Gary Go and Sierralyn Borromeo, 25.

Go is reportedly a resident of Cebu City while the woman resides in Lapu-Lapu City based on their identification cards, said Chief Supt. Camelo Valmoria, director of the National Capital Region police.

Valmoria siad police  are still validing if the two  are indeed from Cebu, and if they have cohorts operating here.

The drugs seized had an estimated value of  P225 million.

Valmoria said the Quezon City Police Office which led the seizure is  following up on the operation that resulted in the arrest of the two suspects last week.

“What I can tell you for now is that we have close coordination with the PRO-7,” he said.

Go and Borromeo were charged with violating section 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

They underwent inquest proceedings before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday despite  it being a holiday, Valmoria said.

The two are still detained at the Quezon City police headquarters in Camp Karingal.

Valmoria asked the public to report illegal drug activity by texting the  Isumbong Mo Kay Tsip hotline 09178475757.

The hotline number is computer-generated and any information will be directly sent to Camp Crame, and forwarded to police regional offices for verification, Valmoria said.

Hotline

The police chief of Cebu city, Senior Supt. Marciano Batiancela,  said he didn’t believe the seized drugs came from Cebu.

“That’s a remote possibility,” he said.

He confirmed that  Supt. Romeo Santander, City Intelligence Branch Chief, is coordinating with Valmoria on the two suspects.

A business leader who  carries the surname Go said he did not know of any  Gary Go in their circles in Cebu.

Robert Go, president of the Philippine Retailers Association Cebu chapter, said the surname Go was very common and could be found  anywhere  in Cebu.

“Nagdaut-daut lang gyod nang tawhana sa among apelyido, ipa-priso gyod na (That suspect is tarnishing  our family name.  He should be jailed),”  Go said.