CEBU CITY -- A South Korean national and his girlfriend were arrested by authorities inside a hotel in Barangay Kamputhaw here Wednesday afternoon for possession of illegal and regulated drugs.
Combined elements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) and Cebu Police Station 2 collared Wei-Rak Son, 39, and his 24-year-old Cebuana girlfriend, Crisel Claire Ferolino, around 5:30 pm Wednesday after hotel management reported that various kinds of drugs were seen scattered inside the couple’s room by housekeeping personnel.
Recovered from the Korean’s room were a packet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” and assorted of regulated drugs, including 36 Zolpidem tablets, 15 Diazepam pills, and 68 other tablets.
Zolpidem and Diazepam are controlled substance drugs used to treat insomnia and anxiety disorders, respectively.
PDEA-7 information officer Leia Albiar on Thursday said the Korean said the drugs are his medication as he is suffering from depression, but failed to produce a doctor’s prescription for the regulated medicines.
Albiar added that girlfriend Ferolino had been previously arrested for illegal possession of shabu.
In another operation, PDEA-7 also arrested a 33-year-old Japanese-Filipino two hours earlier in the same barangay.
Albiar identified the suspect as Shin Bacarisas Torii, who yielded three packs of shabu with a total weight of 0.19 grams and worth PHP1,100 aside from several drug paraphernalia.
The PDEA-7 spokesperson said Torii has been under surveillance for a week before conducting the raid on the suspect’s residence.
The three suspects are now detained at the PDEA-7 detention cell and will be charged with violation of Republic Act. No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
