Three persons allegedly involved in selling and pushing illegal drugs were arrested yesterday at a private rest house at Milestone 49, Purok Balangigay, Brgy. Miranda, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental.

Supt. Leonardo Angcon NOPPO Intelligence Branch chief identified the suspects as Francisca Solis, Reytzel Padernal, and Judy Torreverde all of Brgy. Miranda, Pontevedra, who were arrested during a search operation of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Pontevedra local police.

Judge Frances Guanzon of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 62, Bago City issued a search warrant dated July 17, to Snoogy Tuvellia, alias “Nene,” the live-in partner of Solis, police records showed.

Recovered during the search were 5 grams of shabu, 10 repacked elongated sachets of shabu, 60 marijuana sticks, and an estimated 1/8 kilogram of dried marijuana leaves all amounting to P58,700, four cellphones, and cash in different denominations.

Angcon said Solis had a foreigner as live-in partner, from whom she got separated several months ago, who owns the rest house. The couple had some properties and things, but when Solis got into a relationship with Tuvellia, they sold them and used the money as capital in selling drugs, he also said.

He said Tuvellia was not in the area when they arrived, adding that he was supposed to pick up ‘stocks' from a supplier in Negros Occidental.

Angcon said that, based on their surveillance, the rest house is used as a drug den and lodging house where visitors from a nearby resort come, take drugs, and even do group sex.

He also said they will also take with them Padernal and Torreverde as they were in the area during the search.

Torreverde said she was just there to get food for her children as her husband, Padernal, works for the couple. Padernal also claimed that he started working as cook for Solis and Tuvellia just three days ago.

Angcon also said that the couple is among the identified drug traffickers on their watch list.

Tuvellia and Solis are facing charges for illegal possession of drugs and may also be charged for pushing and for the sale of dangerous drugs, under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002, Angcon said.

Padernal and Torreverde will be charged for visiting a drug den, he added.

Meanwhile, Angcon added, they will try to locate and contact the foreigner who owns the place and confirm the statements made by Solis. They will also investigate if the foreigner is involved in the operations.

Kagawad Eddie Garcia also said that he was surprised about the apprehension of the suspects and that he had no knowledge about the illegal drug operations in the rest house. *LTG

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