PDEA FILES DRUG CHARGES AGAINST FAMILY OF SUPPLIERS, 2 DISTRIBUTORS

A family of four shabu suppliers – father, mother, son and daughter-in-law – together with two of their distributors now face drug charges after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) filed a complaint against them before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Imus, Cavite.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr., identified the respondents as Norman Tumambac, Jr, alias Lapad, Rosalinda Tumambac, Norman Tumambac III, alias Junior , Coemilyn Tumambac, Bonifacio Rabacio and Ismael Enrile. The respondents were charged with violation of sections 11 and 12 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Elements of PDEA Regional Office 4A (PDEA RO4A) under Director Emerson Margate supported by the PDEA Special Enforcement and in collaboration with the local police force, simultaneously served four search warrants against the suspects in separate but adjacent properties in Brgy Ramon Cruz, GMA, Cavite on the morning of November 5, 2011.

The first search warrant was served against the older Norman Tumambac alias Lapad, the father, 49 years old, is included in the regional target list of PDEA. He was arrested in his house in Blk. 13 Lot 8, Brgy Ramon Cruz, GMA, Cavite, with his wife Rosalinda, a 50-year old vendor. Operatives recovered assorted drug paraphernalia and plastic sachets containing 5.22 grams of shabu wrapped in newspaper from their possession.

The second search warrant was served at Blk 13, Excess Lot 43, in the same barangay, against alias Lapad’s son, Norman Tumambac III, alias Junior, a 28-year old tricycle driver, and his wife, Coemelyn. The younger Tumambac and wife yielded 10.97 grams of shabu contained in seven plastic sachets, also wrapped in newspaper, toether with assorted drug paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, Rabacio, a 45-year-old construction worker, was arrested in his residence in Blk 13, Lot 18, also in Brgy Ramon, when operatives served the third search warrant. Assorted drug paraphernalia and one plastic sachet containing 33.13 grams of adulterated shabu, again wrapped in newspaper, were confiscated from Rabacio.

The last search warrant, served in Blk 14 Lot 74, also in Brgy Ramon against Ismael Enrile alias Maeng, a 40-year old laborer. Confiscated from his possession are assorted drug paraphernalia and 2.44 grams of adulterated shabu contained in two plastic sachets.

“Based on initial appreciation of evidence, we have reason to believe that the properties searched are being used not only for selling shabu but also for pot sessions,” the PDEA chief said, citing used foils and empty plastic sachets with shabu residue found in the respective areas of operation.

All the suspects are presently detained in the temporary detention facility of PDEA RO4A awaiting commitment order from the court for their transfer to appropriate jail facility. Evangeline DJ Almenario, Chief, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency