Laundrywoman, laborer nabbed for running suspected drug dens in Cebu City

PDEA-7: 8 arrested, 2 suspected drug dens in Cebu City shut down, P421,600 suspected shabu seized

PDEA-7 agents arrest a laundrywoman, who was caught with P346,800 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-biust operation on Saturday, October 7, 2023. | PDEA-7 via Paul Lauro

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 44-year-old laundrywoman and a 54-year-old laborer landed in jail after they were caught with nearly P500,000 worth of suspected shabu during two separate raids on two suspected drug dens in Cebu City on Saturday, October 7.

First to fall was the laundrywoman, who was caught allegedly running a suspected drug den in Sitio Lupa, Barangay Sapangdaku, a mountain barangay of Cebu City.

READ: Shabu worth P74,800 seized; 4 nabbed in suspected drug den in Brgy Labangon

Caught with 51 grams of suspected shabu

According to the report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7), the laundrywoman was identified as Teresita S. Ochea, also known as Tasing.

PDEA-7 in its report also said that Ochea allegedly was the caretaker or maintainer of the illegal drug den in Sapangdaku.

She was also described by PDEA-7 as a member of a newly identified drug group.

Aside from that, the PDEA-7 also said that they confiscated some 51 grams of suspected shabu from Ochea, which had a market value of P346,800 during the buy-bust operation at past 6 a.m. that day.

PDEA-7 agents arrest a laborer, who was caught with 11 grams of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in his house which was allegedly a suspected drug den which was allegedly run by the laborer, and aside from that six people were also arrested for being visitors of the suspected drug den. | PDEA-7 via Paul Lauro

READ: Cebu City buy-bust: P204,000 shabu seized, carpenter nabbed

Barangay Suba raid

Nearly 13 hours later, or at past 7 p.m., PDEA-7 operatives also raided another suspected drug den and this time in Barangay Suba, Cebu City.

PDEA-7 said that they arrested a laborer, the alleged caretaker or maintainer of the suspected drug den, who was identified as Cepriano Ressurrecion also known as Tatay.

The PDEA-7 report said that they confiscated some 11 grams of suspected shabu from Ressureccion, which had a market value of P74,800.

Aside from that, there were also six men, who were considered drug den visitors, who were also arrested during the buy-bust operation.

READ: Alleged drug den operator, 4 others nabbed in Subic

Drug den visitors arrested also

Those arrested included a construction project supervisor and a habal-habal driver.

PDEA-7 in the report, identified them as Ken P. Abubo, 32, construction worker; Pampelito Retubado, 47, construction worker; Mark Leonard Baaclo, 41, construction project supervisor; Reynaldo Estoli Jr., 36, habal-habal driver; Renel Custodio, 22, jobless; and Michael Bañarez, 36, laborer. 

PDEA-7 have submitted the pieces of drug evidence for chemical analysis and proper disposition. 

Those arrested were detained at the PDEA custodial facility pending the filing of charges.

According to PDEA-7, they would be facing charges of selling, possession of illegal drugs and running a drug den for Ochea and Resurreccion while the six other men would be charged with visiting a drug den and possession of illegal drugs.