A job order employee of Mandaue City Hall and his female companion were arrested on Tuesday noon at his residence during the Oplan Tokhang (toktok hangyo) conducted by the operatives of Centro Police Station 1.
According to Station 1 Police Senior Insp. Hugo Rio Ipong, Patrick Castañeda, 54, was allegedly caught in the act of having a pot session inside their house in Barangay Guizo.
Ipong said that Castañeda’s name was included in the list of drug users of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC).
Lucile Sacay, 32, of Sitio Basak, Barangay Ibabao, Lapu-Lapu City was also arrested with Castañeda.
“Every day we conduct Oplan Tokhang. And last Tuesday when we arrived at Castañeda’s house, the two were having a pot session,” Ipong said.
Police recovered two pieces of aluminum tin foil and a lighter from Castañeda and three aluminum tin foils and a lighter from Sacay.
Ipong said that although no suspected shabu was recovered, they forwarded the tin foil to the crime laboratory to trace the remaining residue.
Castañeda said that he has been working at City Social Welfare Services as janitor for almost a year. He said he was on his way to work when the police arrived at their house.
“Na-shock na lang ko nga naay police. Dili gyud to akoa ang mga tin foil nga nakuha (I was shocked when policemen arrived. The tin foil does not belong to me),” Castañeda said.
He also denied allegations that their house was used as a drug den.
Sacay, for her part, said that Castañeda is her friend. She also denied the allegations that they were having a pot session.
“Tinuod nga ni adto ko sa ila pero para ra mohatag og kwarta ni Patrick (Castañeda) para palit tambal kay ako naman na gituring nga amahan (It’s true that I was in their house but only to give him money for his medicines. I already considered him as my father),” Sacay said.
In his Facebook account on Tuesday, Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing said: “We have a zero-tolerance policy for drug abuse in City Hall. For the employee who was caught with drugs tonight, consider this your termination notice.”
Meanwhile, seven people linked to illegal drugs surrendered at the Police Station 1 yesterday.
Kennedy Ceniza, 18, the youngest among the surrenderers, said that he and his friends decided to surrender because they were afraid of the Oplan Tokhang.
“Nahadlok na gyud ko labi na naa koy 5-month-old nga anak (I’m really afraid especially that I have a 5-month-old child),” Ceniza said.
Ceniza only finished second year high school.
“Maayo unta hatagan mig trabaho. Naa unta koy giaplayan pero wa pa man ko tawagi (I hope we would be given jobs. I applied for a job, but I haven’t received a call yet),” Ceniza said.
He added he was willing to change for his family.
From July 1 to 10, the Police Station 1 has already recorded 145 surrenderers as a result of their Operation Tokhang.