‘Blessings of government higher ups’ probed Pangasinan drug den raided; 12 arrested

DAGUPAN CITY – Government forces raided a hideout of dreaded drug lords and criminals in a compound here arresting 12 suspected drug syndicate members and confiscating shabu, alleged drug money, guns and drug chemicals and paraphernalia.

Raiders from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, police, Philippine Navy and Philippine Army raided the “seriously drug affected Muslim compound” in Bonuan Gueset on May 21 implementing eight separate search warrants in the houses of syndicate members.

Emely Fama, spokesperson of the PDEA-Cordillera said government agents seized 48 sachets of shabu, about 20 grams valued at P250,000; two Cal. 38 caliber revolvers, and one Cal.45 pistol with two magazines and 17 bullets; drug money worth P55,727.25; numerous and Leaders of the Muslim community in the area denied those arrested were involved in drugs or that their neighborhood hosted a mini-shabu laboratory.

One of the Muslim elders said shabu circulating in the city had come from Manila and Cavite.

But Openia said his operatives had monitored the last four months and found out that drugs proliferating in this city came from Tondaligan and that the suspects were responsible for making and trafficking them.

He also said that the PDEA has been threatened with lawsuits by a Muslim association.

The PDEA is filing cases for violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Section 12 (possession of equipment, instrument, apparatus and other paraphernalia for dangerous drugs), Section 6 (maintenance of a drug den, dive or resort) and Section 7 (employees and visitors of a drug den, dive or resort), all of Republic Act (RA) 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002); and violation of RA 8294 (illegal possession of firearm) against the suspects.

Fama said an additional case for violation of Section 15 (use of dangerous drugs) of RA 9165 shall be filed against them if their tests yield positive of shabu use.