DAVAO CITY – Davao City’s Information Office head Jefry Tupas dismissed claims that he was among those arrested in a drug bust operation conducted by authorities in Mabini town, Davao de Oro on Nov. 6.
“I was there because like the other guests, I was invited. But I left right after dinner with my boyfriend and another friend,” Tupas said in response to claims that he was among those who were nabbed at the beach party.
In a report obtained from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Davao Region (PDEA-Davao), the subject of the drug bust, identified as Revsan Ethelbert Papay Elizalde, 33, of Catalunan Pequeño in Davao City, was nabbed at 9:15 p.m.
Authorities also arrested Eana Faye Marie Olea, Bryk Jiordan Archival, Kurk Bryan Tiubot, Paolo Guerero, Jomark Aping, Ariel Bueno, Edel Caballero, Ronald Chuan, Fritz Dinopol, Tom Jhun Doblas, Mark Christopher Isip, Janlord Masong, Christopher Prudente, Jesus Ragas III, Giovanni Tabanao, and Jason Viduya.
The join-operation conducted by the PDEA-Davao, National Bureau of Investigation–Southern Mindanao Region (NBI-SEMRO), and Mabini Municipal Police Station, confiscated more or less P1.5 million worth of suspected party drugs, shabu, and marijuana from the 17 suspects.
Elizalde was arrested for selling one plastic sachet containing a violet capsule believed to be a party drug worth P2,000 and one large vacuum sealed transparent plastic cellophane with suspected Cannabis Sativa or marijuana worth P6,000 to a PDEA agent who acted as the poseur buyer.
The authorities also recovered from the other suspects 26 pieces heat sealed transparent plastic sachets with suspected dried marijuana leaves in different sizes weighing about 200 grams and worth P24,000; three pieces plastic sachets with suspected shabu in different sizes weighing about 10 grams worth P150,000; around 722 suspected party drug capsules worth P1,227,400; nine plastic bottles with suspected liquid party drugs worth P15,000; two vials containing suspected liquid party drugs worth P17,000; 77 pieces suspected LSD worth P130,000; and seven bottles of energy drink.
The 17 suspects are currently detained at the NBI-SEMRO detention facility, while the seized suspected illegal drugs were submitted to the PDEA-Davao Laboratory for examination.
The suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.