PIECES of evidence seized by operatives of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) inside an apartment rented by an alleged chemical engineer tested positive for party drugs known as methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA.
The apartment, located along D. Jakosalem Street in Barangay Zapatera, Cebu City, was allegedly used as a drug laboratory.
The recovered pieces of evidence -- including powders, capsules, and other substances -- were subjected to chemical analysis by chemists from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 during the police operation.
According to Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan, chief of PRO 7, this confirms that Stephen Tapulado’s apartment was indeed being used as a manufacturing site for illegal drugs such as ecstasy, shabu, and cocaine.
“Ang ibig sabihin niyan ay yan yung pinaka main ingredient ng party drug, so ibig sabihin positive sa party drug yung ilang chemicals na na-recover doon at yun namang mga powdery substance na narecover, medyo madami yung sa ibat-ibang pakite nakalagay sa mga plastic. Meron pang nakalagay doon sa metal containers ay kasalukuyang sumasailalim pa sa technical analysis nung ating mga chemist,” said Maranan.
(That means what we found is the main ingredient of party drugs. So, the chemicals recovered from the apartment tested positive for party drug content. The powdery substances found in different packets, plastic containers, and even metal cans are currently undergoing further technical analysis by our chemists.)
The results from the PDEA 7 laboratory will strengthen the case being prepared against Tapulado and his live-in partner, Delca Delminguez.
Maranan said Tapulado is believed to be the main source of party drugs in Central Visayas, and that his downline distributors had already been arrested in previous anti-illegal drug operations.
With the arrest of the main supplier, Maranan believes that the flow of party drugs to Cebu, Boracay Island, and Zamboanga City -- Tapulado’s reported distribution points -- will now slow down.
The search warrant issued by the Cebu City court is set to be returned to PRO 7, while case documents against the suspects are currently being prepared. (AYB)
