IBA, Zambales – Four suspects were caught in the middle of a pot session by joint PNP-PDEA operatives conducting anti-drug operations in Castillejos town early morning of Wednesday.
Zambales police director Col. Romano Velayo Cardiño said that at about 1:20 in the morning, the operation was implemented by elements of the Castillejos police together with the provincial drug enforcement and intelligence units and PDEA-Region 3 in Purok 6, Barangay San Pablo, Castillejos.
Arrested were James Darylle Calderon y Semana, 35, of Purok 6, Barangay San Pablo who is in the police drug watch list, and Rochelle Hayes y Abella, 44, of Barangay San Nicolas, also in Castillejos; Nexlea Malangen y Elesorio, 33, of Sawmill, Barangay San Isidro, and Jinessa Labaclado, 21, of Barangay Calapacuan both in Subic town.
A police inventory of the seized evidence included: one sachet of suspected shabu (buy- bust item); one P500 bill (buy-bust money); one .22 revolver loaded with five ammunition (seized from the possession of Calderon); one improvised tube pipe; one improvised lighter; one heat-sealed transparent sachet containing suspected shabu; a pair of scissor (seized from the possession of Malangen); one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet unused foil (seized from Labaclado); two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu; improvised lighter; unused foil (seized from Abella); one small open metal case; one heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu; three improvised foil; one yellow pouch; and six heat-sealed plastic transparent sachets.
In total, police recovered 12 heat sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated weight of 8.78 grams with estimated value of P57,000.
The suspects face charges for violation of Sections 5 (Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs), Section 6 (Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort), Section 7 (Employees and Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Section 12 (Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs) and Section 13 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs During Parties, Social Gatherings or Meetings) of Article II of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). In addition, Calderon is also charged for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
Cardiño said: “With the constant arrest of illegal drug personalities as well as the unremitting commitment of the police to stop its proliferation, illegal drug traders will have less opportunity to propagate illegal drugs here in Zambales.”