CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — The son of Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno, who was arrested with seven others in Angeles City on June 27, is awaiting transfer to a detention facility, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Saturday.
Sean, 43, Moreno’s eldest son, and his companions were detained at the PDEA Region 3 office in San Fernando City, Pampanga, but lawmen are awaiting their commitment order since a case had alrady been filed by prosecutors.
Drug cases filed
The Angeles City prosecutor’s office had endorsed the case to the court on July 2 and 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 Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Seized contraband
They were arrested in a sting operation where the authorities seized 310 tablets of ecstasy, five capsules of Dimethyl Tripticase, a plastic bottle containing 100 tablets of Valium, three plastic sachets containing suspected kush, a plastic sachet containing some 0.75 grams of cocaine and a weighing scale.
Sean is the oldest among the eight suspects, seven of whom are in their late teens to mid-20s, and are all from Angeles City.
The other arrested suspects were identified by PDEA as Bernice Fabiosa, 21; Ma. Isabel Lawas, 19; Aileen Baldon, 23; Jaime Mendoza, 20; Jessa Scott, 19; Bernadeth Saavedra, 19; and Gregorio Imperial, 26.
Guillermo said that when arrested, Sean only revealed he was Moreno’s son when asked by PDEA probers.
Ashamed and sorry
“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 was already assisted by a lawyer.
Moreno also expressed regret at the situation.
“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.