Three arrested in Roxas City drug sting

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Three people whom authorities classified as high-value targets were arrested Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 8, in a joint anti-drug operation in Sitio Railway, Barangay IX, Roxas City.

The operation began at about 5:30 p.m. and was conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 6’s Guimaras Provincial Office, Capiz Provincial Office and Roxas Seaport Interdiction Unit, together with the Philippine National Police-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit.

The suspects were identified as Reynaldo Macario, alias “Junjun,” 28, of Barangay IX, Roxas City, whom authorities described as the alleged maintainer of a drug den; Queena Amoyan, 26, of Barangay Baybay, Roxas City; and Ace Adudis, 24, of Rizal Pala-Pala, Iloilo City.

In an interview with reporters, Macario said he had been staying in the nipa hut that allegedly served as a drug den for two weeks after leaving his home because of a disagreement with his siblings.

He admitted using illegal drugs to relieve boredom while working as a welder.

Amoyan, also known as “Queenie,” said she had gone to Macario’s hut to sell footwear and that Adudis regularly stayed there as a helper.

Agents said they recovered 10 plastic sachets containing about 18 grams of suspected shabu, or crystal methamphetamine, with an estimated standard drug price of PHP 122,400.

Authorities also recovered two glass pipes, two pieces of foil with suspected shabu residue, an open plastic sachet with residue and an improvised straw scoop with residue. Other items seized included a lighter, scissors, another improvised scoop, a bamboo clip, tweezers, a sling bag and a weighing scale.

The suspects remained in the custody of PDEA Capiz while authorities prepared charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.