2 drivers face raps for drugs

TWO public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers earlier arrested for illegal drugs have been charged before the City Prosecutor's Office (CPO).

Superintendent Caezar P. Cabuhat, chief of the Sta. Ana Police Station, identified the two suspects as Elmer Guitan Oliver, 39, of Kaputian District in Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), and his friend, Erwin Cordora Cañada, 40, of Bolton Isla in Davao City.

Oliver and Cañada were both arrested last March 8.

Cabuhat said the two suspects were charged for violation of a Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs) in relation to Section 12 (Possession of Instrument of Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Recovered from the possession of the suspects were one small elongated plastic with traces of suspected shabu, one aluminum foil strip with traces of suspected shabu, two improvised aluminum foil tooter, one disposable lighter, and stainless scissor.

A source who refused to be named for lack of authority to speak said the accused were brought before Prosecutor Faizal Padate on Monday morning for inquest proceedings.

Cabuhat said the suspects were arrested at Purok 2 in Barangay 37-D of Boulevard in Davao City last Friday around 8 p.m. following a phone call that a group of unidentified men were on pot session inside the house of a certain Malou.

"We conducted surveillance on the area at yun nga... it was found that the suspects were on pot session kaya sila hinuli. It so happened that the owner of that rented house wasn't there (living)," Cabuhat said.

The suspects are now detained at the Sta. Ana Police Station, while the seized suspected drugs and paraphernalia were already placed at the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory.