4 drug users arrested as robbery turns into drug operation

February 5, 2019 Police Patrol

ITOGON, BENGUET – Four drug suspects, initially assumed to be robbers, were arrested after they were caught having a pot session by the Itogon Municipal Police Station (MPS), following what was presumed to be a break in operation, which drastically turned into an unexpected drug activity.
This, after a resident owner in Monterazza’s Village in Tuding here noticed several individuals occupying her home at around 2:50 in the morning of February 1. The owner, who was away for a period of time and certain that she is the only person with a key to the property, immediately reported to authorities and was swiftly met with assistance.
A team was quickly formed and led by OIC/Police Chief Investigator Rommel Sawatang, who instructed personnel to surround the building, only to discover a few corners of the home to be lit up. The owner slowly opened the nearest door, enough for them to see a view of the unfamiliar people having a “pot session” with a young innocent boy playing around them.
Sawatang’s team barged in to arrest the four suspects who were caught in the act of drug use and were immediately subjected to a body search.
Confiscated from the suspects were one pure leather containing a caliber 22 revolver with 3 loaded bullets and 6 extra live ammos, two lighters, two aluminum foils with residue of suspected shabu, two sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, one empty sachet with live residue of suspected shabus and one toother/pipe.
The suspects were identified as Jean Ann Domingo Arevalo, 43 , and a native of Ilocos Norte; Linte Antonio Torres, 38, from Cinco Avenue, Cebu City; Airon Belardo Kali, 24, resident of Quezon Hill, Baguio City; and Dandy Dela Cruz Mendoza, 28, of Bubon, Virac, Itogon.
Arevalo was later on revealed to be the house owner’s past physical therapist and current care taker of the house in the area. The lady suspect slowly became close during their past therapeutic sessions and was eventually trusted with the home yard maintenance, but neither to the keys nor the permission to reside in the property. Shockingly, the rooms were full of Arevalo’s belongings, including some of the other suspects’.
“There were a number of empty sachets on the ground, even in other rooms of the home, so we suspect that this has been going on for a while now,” Sawatang said.
The suspects are now currently detained and are being filed with cases of illegal drug use, child abuse/negligence and trespassing.
This is the second drug related operation successfully conducted by the Itogon MPS in the span of less than a week after its joint operation with PDEA-CAR last January 26.
REIGN PEACE B. KERYAO, UB Intern/ABN