Photo from NCRPO
A former child actor was apprehended by Caloocan City Police following an entrapment operation in Quezon City on Thursday night.
In a press briefing at Camp Bagong Diwa on Friday, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said CJ Ramos, who confessed to using illegal drugs, was not really the target of the anti-illegal drugs operations but was caught in the act of buying shabu from the targeted pusher identified as Louvella Gilen.
“It was an operation conducted by the Caloocan City Police Station. Initially meron silang operation sa Caloocan, which resulted in the information kung nasaan ‘yong supplier ng kanilang nahuli doon,” Eleazar said.
“Ito (Gilen) ngayon talaga ang subject ng buy-bust operation nila. So they were able to arrest the suspect, but during that time, may kumontact ngayon na kliyente at bibili ng drugs […] It was found out that the one who was buying the drugs was Cromel John Ramos, or CJ Ramos, a former child actor,” the NCRPO chief added.
According to Ramos, from whom police recovered a sachet of shabu, he has been using the substance for several years now. He claimed he has tried to stop but was only tempted to use shabu again.
“Matagal na rin po akong gumagamit dati (gabi-gabi). Ang totoo n’yan, maglalaba talaga ako no’n, eh masakit katawan ko, kailangan ko ng pampalakas,” he said.
“Talagang nagbagong buhay na po talaga ako, pero ngayon lang natukso lang po talaga ako ulit,” he claimed.
Ramos appeared in different mainstream and Indie films as well as television shows – the most popular of which was Star Cinema’s Tanging Yaman, a family-drama movie, and Ang TV Movie.
He said that his addiction did not stem from the demands of staying awake for movie or television shoots although he noted that his fallout from stardom could be a reason since illegal drugs use presented an escape from his problems.
“No’ng nasa industry po ako never po akong nag-ganyan. Never, kahit na puyatan hindi ako naga-ganyan,” Ramos said.
A tearful Ramos added that he regrets being involved with illegal drugs, even asking individuals who use these substances to turn away from it.
“Siguro, Sir, pulis ako ngayon,” he said, reflecting on the possibilities if he did not use shabu. “Itigil niyo na ‘yan, bahala kayo sa buhay niyo, sasayangin niyo lang buhay niyo. ‘Wag niyo na subukan, kung may chance pa kayo itigil niyo na. Basta ako, nahihirapan ako, hindi na ako magda-drugs kahit kailan.”
“Natakot ako siyempre, buti nga humihinga pa ako ngayon eh,” he added, saying that he also feared being killed in anti-illegal drugs operations.
Eleazar said the arrest of Ramos is a testament that the government’s war on illegal drugs is not targeted towards the poor, emphasizing that people from all walks of life — even celebrities — can face drug charges.
“Tuloy-tuloy ‘yong ating campaign against illegal drugs, and pinakikita natin na hindi lang naman ito doon sa sinasabi nila na mga mahihirap,” the NCRPO chief said.
“Kung sinong involved sa droga, meron tayong ebidensya, kahit nasaang status sila ng kanilang pamumuhay, we will do appropriate action,” he added.
Both Gilen and Ramos will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. They were placed under the custody of the Caloocan police.