8 arrested in another drug den raid
The crackdown continues.
Eight persons, including a 65-year-old woman, were arrested during a raid of a drug den in Brgy. Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City at around 1 a.m. yesterday.
Members of the Task Force Bakhaw and the Regional Special Operations Group identified the main suspect as Merlinda Mena, 65, alleged operator and maintainer of the drug den.
Others are Rey Demavilbo, 38, of Brgy. Sulangan, Dumangas, Iloilo and Auburn Genona, 41, of Rizal Tuguisan St., Guimbal, Iloilo.
Those arrested from Mandurriao are Gilbert Javano, 35; Kristina Ramelo, 19; and Glydel Denaga, 29, all of Brgy. Bolilao; and Jonnifer de Asis, 32, of Brgy. Bakhaw.
Police operatives also arrested Arnel Asero, 20, of Brgy. Bakhaw, who served as lookout for those holding a “pot session.” He was found with a knife.
Except for Mena and Asero, the police said the six just had a “pot session” when the raid was conducted.
The raiding team seized various shabu paraphernalia, along with a plastic sachet with suspected shabu residue.
Mena, however, denied that she is the drug den operator.
Instead, she identified her daughter-in-law, Katherine Jonilla, as the maintainer of the drug den.
Mena, who is taking care of her six grandchildren whose parents are now in jail for illegal drug cases, said she only arranges the holding of card games in the vicinity.
One of the suspects also denied taking taking part in the “pot session” but admitted he was playing card game “tong-its” when he comes to the place.
Last week, police operatives also busted a drug den in Brgy. Malipayon, City Proper district.
Both Malipayon and Bakhaw villages are considered seriously drug affected villages, along with Tanza-Esperanza, also in City Proper district.*
