Twelve persons, including a barangay kagawad, were arrested yesterday by a combined team of anti-narcotics operatives and policemen in a raid on a suspected “shabu talipapa” in Brgy. Zone 4, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

The arrested barangay kagawad was identified as Elpedia Quiatchon and is the alleged maintainer of the drug den, and supplier of the prohibited drugs.

In a radio interview, Quiatchon, 43, questioned the raid of policemen, claiming it was not covered by a search warrant.

Chief Insp. Rico Santotome, chief of the Negros Occidental police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, however, said there was no need for a search warrant, since it was a buy-bust operation.

He also said Quiatchon whose husband, Borontoy, and son Nigor, who managed to escape, were the subjects of their anti-drug operations.

Also arrested at the suspected drug den were Mon Brian Quiatchon, 18, Shiela Mae Causing, 20, Joel Trocio alias Jojo, 33, and Rolando Bautista, 39.

Those who visited the alleged drug den identified as Diana Canones, 46, Catherine Bautista, 46, Jojean Caceres, 25, Julius Calvo, 30, Kim Destacamento, 31, Jonathan Alob, 48, and Ramor dela Cruz, 25, all residents of Cadiz City, were also placed under arrest, Santotome said.

The apprehension of the 12 also yielded eight sachets of suspected shabu worth P5,000, assorted illegal drugs paraphernalia, six cellphones, P2,946 in cash, and the P1,500 in marked money.

Chief Insp. Noel Mana-ay, whose policemen assisted the anti-narcotics operatives of NOPPO and 611th Provincial Mobile Group troopers, said the area that was subject of the anti-drug operation is suspected to be a “shabu talipapa”.

On Nov. 1, six persons were also arrested by the police at a public cemetery in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, for having suspected marijuana cigarets.

Senior Supt. Manuel Felix, provincial police director, commended the NOPPO anti-narcotics unit, 611th PMG and policemen under the command of Mana-ay for the successful raid of the long-time “shabu talipapa” in Cadiz City.*GPB

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