DENR officer, doctor caught in Davao City pot session

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A government official and a physician were arrested late Tuesday afternoon, October 17, after authorities found they were holding a pot session at a subdivision here.

Some 8 grams of suspected shabu and ecstasy capsules were taken from Benjamin Jaraplasan Medel and Stephen So Tay during a buy-bust operation at 5:30 pm Tuesday at San Pedro Village, Buhangin, Davao City, said Iav Naravy Duquiatan, officer in charge of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region XI.

Duquiatan, who reaveled the information at a press conference on Wednesday, October 18, said Tay is a Davao-based physician considered by PDEA as a high-profile target in the region.

The buy-bust operation also yielded a unit of fragmentation grenade and an Isuzu Dmax allegedly used by Tay in illegal drug activities, said Duquiatan.

Pot session with ‘frat mate’

Meanwhile, Ben Joseph Tesiorna, PDEA XI’s legal counsel, said authorities were not expecting they would arrest Medel, a provincial officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Bicol Region.

Medel, allegedly Tay’s fraternity mate based on PDEA’s investigation, was in Davao to attend a convention, said Tesiorna.

“Unfortunately, he was with Dr Tay during the conduct of the buy-bust operation,” said Tesiorna.

“He was just invited by Dr Tay to have a pot session. Unfortunately, he was doing in the hometown of the President,” he added.

Tesiorna said Medel could not deny his involvement in the illegal activity as he turned out positive for illegal drugs.

Both Tay and Medel are now in PDEA XI’s detention facility. The agency said it is preparing to file charges against the two for violating Section 5, Section, 11, Section 12, and Section 15, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Republic Act 9516, which amends the anti-illegal firearms law.

Medel could also face absolute perpetual disqualification from any public office if he is found guilty of the said violations, according to PDEA. – Rappler.com