Ex-child actor nabbed in anti-drug operation
Published Aug 3, 2018 01:58 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
A former child actor who saw his showbiz career go to waste due to illegal drugs vice was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Quezon City on Thursday night.
Former child actor Crommell John Ocampo Ramos (screen name CJ Ramos) during a press conference at the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Friday, August 3, 2018. (JANSEN ROMERO)
Cromell John "CJ" Ramos, 31, who starred in classic Filipino films "Tanging Yaman" and "Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure," was arrested while in possession of a plastic sachet containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu." He was presented on Friday by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Elements of Caloocan City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) arrested Ramos after he bought the drugs from their primary target, Louvella Gilen, 36, a suspected supplier, in Tandang Sora, Quezon City around 10:50 p.m.
Gilen was earlier arrested in a buy-bust operation after selling P500 worth of shabu to a police poseur-buyer. Eleazar then said Ramos contacted Gilen and told her he wanted to buy drugs so an entrapment operation was arranged by the operatives.
"It was only after the operatives arrested the subject that they thought he looked familiar. It turns out he was an actor," Eleazar said.
Ramos admitted he is a drug user, starting 10 years ago or since he was 21. He said it was his addiction to drugs that caused the downfall of his acting career.
"Matagal na rin po akong gumagamit. Humihingi po ako sa parents ko, hindi po nila alam (I have long been using drugs. I was asking money from my parents, they don't know)," Ramos said. He later couldn't help but cry.
Asked why he got himself into the mess, Ramos said: "Siguro dahil sa hirap ng buhay, problema, tsaka sobrang addictive talaga itong droga. Nabiktima lang din po ako pero ang problema nagpapabiktima tayo sa bisyo." (Probably because life is hard, problems, and this vice is too addicting. I am also a victim but the problem is we let ourselves to be victims of these vices).
He said he stopped using drugs for a year already but the urge to use continues to haunt him. He said he was about to wash clothes and his body was aching so he needed something to make him feel strong.
However, Ramos said he did not use drugs when he was still in the showbusiness industry. He said he left show business when he was 15 years old but appeared once in a television show last year. He started in show business when he was 4 years old.
Ramos said he did not know any other actor who uses drugs.
However, Eleazar said they have a list of celebrities who are suspectedly involved in illegal drugs.
"We need further validation before we can conduct an operation," Eleazar said.
If there's one thing that Ramos wants to say to his fellow actors and others who continue to engage in illegal drug activities: "Wag niyo na subukan. Kung may chance pa kayo, itigil na ninyo. Basta ako nahihirapan ako. Di na ako magdadrugs kahit kailan." (Do not try this anymore. If you have a chance, stop now. I am suffering. I won't ever use drugs again.)
"Natakot din po ako. Buti humihinga pa ako ngayon. Kung papayagan magpa-rehab okay ako dahil hindi pa naman ako nakakapagparehab (I was also afraid. It was a good thing I'm still alive. If they will allow me to undergo rehabilitation, I am willing to do so because I have yet to subject myself to such)," he said.
Ramos also apologized to his parents for disappointing them.
Eleazar said Ramos and Gilen were newly-listed drug personalities and not included in their watchlist.
Ramos was charged with violation of Section 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (possession of illegal drugs) while Gilen was filed with violation of Section 5 of RA915 (selling of illegal drugs).
The two suspects were sent to the Caloocan City Police Station for detention.
Former child actor Crommell John Ocampo Ramos (screen name CJ Ramos) during a press conference at the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Friday, August 3, 2018. (JANSEN ROMERO)
Cromell John "CJ" Ramos, 31, who starred in classic Filipino films "Tanging Yaman" and "Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure," was arrested while in possession of a plastic sachet containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu." He was presented on Friday by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Elements of Caloocan City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) arrested Ramos after he bought the drugs from their primary target, Louvella Gilen, 36, a suspected supplier, in Tandang Sora, Quezon City around 10:50 p.m.
Gilen was earlier arrested in a buy-bust operation after selling P500 worth of shabu to a police poseur-buyer. Eleazar then said Ramos contacted Gilen and told her he wanted to buy drugs so an entrapment operation was arranged by the operatives.
"It was only after the operatives arrested the subject that they thought he looked familiar. It turns out he was an actor," Eleazar said.
Ramos admitted he is a drug user, starting 10 years ago or since he was 21. He said it was his addiction to drugs that caused the downfall of his acting career.
"Matagal na rin po akong gumagamit. Humihingi po ako sa parents ko, hindi po nila alam (I have long been using drugs. I was asking money from my parents, they don't know)," Ramos said. He later couldn't help but cry.
Asked why he got himself into the mess, Ramos said: "Siguro dahil sa hirap ng buhay, problema, tsaka sobrang addictive talaga itong droga. Nabiktima lang din po ako pero ang problema nagpapabiktima tayo sa bisyo." (Probably because life is hard, problems, and this vice is too addicting. I am also a victim but the problem is we let ourselves to be victims of these vices).
He said he stopped using drugs for a year already but the urge to use continues to haunt him. He said he was about to wash clothes and his body was aching so he needed something to make him feel strong.
However, Ramos said he did not use drugs when he was still in the showbusiness industry. He said he left show business when he was 15 years old but appeared once in a television show last year. He started in show business when he was 4 years old.
Ramos said he did not know any other actor who uses drugs.
However, Eleazar said they have a list of celebrities who are suspectedly involved in illegal drugs.
"We need further validation before we can conduct an operation," Eleazar said.
If there's one thing that Ramos wants to say to his fellow actors and others who continue to engage in illegal drug activities: "Wag niyo na subukan. Kung may chance pa kayo, itigil na ninyo. Basta ako nahihirapan ako. Di na ako magdadrugs kahit kailan." (Do not try this anymore. If you have a chance, stop now. I am suffering. I won't ever use drugs again.)
"Natakot din po ako. Buti humihinga pa ako ngayon. Kung papayagan magpa-rehab okay ako dahil hindi pa naman ako nakakapagparehab (I was also afraid. It was a good thing I'm still alive. If they will allow me to undergo rehabilitation, I am willing to do so because I have yet to subject myself to such)," he said.
Ramos also apologized to his parents for disappointing them.
Eleazar said Ramos and Gilen were newly-listed drug personalities and not included in their watchlist.
Ramos was charged with violation of Section 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (possession of illegal drugs) while Gilen was filed with violation of Section 5 of RA915 (selling of illegal drugs).
The two suspects were sent to the Caloocan City Police Station for detention.