Duterte berates nabbed couple

A COUPLE earlier arrested for selling shabu worth around P1 million got a dressing down from Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday.

Duterte, who is acting mayor, berated Monsour Kalipa Usama, 32, a businessman, and his wife, Ednilyn Lumongsod Solis, 27, a fire officer, both residents of 135 Eden Street, St. Michael Village, Ma-a, Davao City.

Usama and Solis were nabbed in a joint buy-bust operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and San Pedro police Tuesday noon in Bankerohan.

The PDEA and San Pedro police presented the couple to Duterte and the media Tuesday afternoon during the "Ato ni Bay" forum at the Councilors' Lounge of the City Council.

"Ayaw kauwaw. Pinasok mo eh bakit ka mahihiya. Ngano maulaw man ka?" Duterte told Solis, who was covering her face during the media presentation.

PDEA-Davao Director Emerson Rosales said they have confiscated P1 million worth of shabu and recovered the P50,000 marked money from the suspects' possession.

He said they have been monitoring the illegal acts of the couple since last year.

"Sa Bankerohan sila nahuli, kasi doon ang transaction nila," Rosales said.

The PDEA-Davao chief said the shabu seized from the couple was so far the high-valued items they have confiscated. The couple gets supply from Cotabato province, according to Rosales.

He said appropriate charges are set to be filed against the suspects.

Duterte, known for his hardline stand against criminals in the city, congratulated the authorities for nabbing the big-time dealers of shabu.

The city has been intensifying its campaign against illegal drugs. (ANC)