De Oro mayor’s son, 7 others await jail order

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The son of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, along with seven others arrested for illegal drugs possession in Angeles City, is awaiting transfer to a detention facility, an official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

Sean, 43, Moreno’s eldest son, and his companions are currently held at the PDEA Region 3 office in San Fernando City, Pampanga following their arrest on June 27 in a drug buy-bust operation.

Recovered from their possession were party drugs with an estimated street value of around P1 million.

The Angeles city prosecutor’s office has released a resolution endorsing the case to the court on Tuesday, July 2, hence an order transferring the suspects to the city jail is expected soon, PDEA-3 information officer Glenn Guillermo told the Inquirer by phone.

“We are just waiting for the commitment order,” Guillermo said.

The eight suspects are facing charges for violation of Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Confiscated during the operation were 310 tablets of ecstasy; five capsules of Dimethyl Tripticase; a plastic bottle containing 100 tablets of Valium; three plastic sachets containing suspected kush, described as a more potent cannabis variety; a plastic sachet containing 0.75 grams of cocaine; and a weighing scale.

At 43, Sean is the oldest among the suspects; the rest are in their late teens to mid-20s, all of whom are from Angeles City.

Guillermo said that when arrested, Sean only revealed he is Moreno’s son when asked by PDEA-3 investigators.

“He (Sean) said that he felt ashamed and sorry for the embarrassment he has brought to his family,” Guillermo added.

Guillermo further said that Sean is assisted by a legal counsel.

Moreno, on Wednesday, vowed to provide legal support for Sean.

“Even if he has gone astray, Sean is still my son, whom I took very special care since his birth. I deeply regret the situation that Sean is in now. I will endlessly continue to struggle thinking about what led him to this,” Moreno said. (Editor: Leti Boniol)