PDEA to probe reports that sacked Davao City exec, others allowed to leave drug raid

RESORT DRUG BUST Police officers stand at the doorway of a room where some of the drug suspects were arrested in a raid on a beach resort in Mabini, Davao de Oro province, on Nov. 6. In all, 17 were arrested and P1.56 million worth of illegal drugs, including LSD, “shabu” (crystal meth) and marijuana (inset), were seized by the authorities. —PHOTO FROM PDEA-REGION 11

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Davao Region vowed on Wednesday to investigate the claims made by those arrested in a drug raid that Jefry Tupas, who was sacked as information officer of the Davao City government, and other party-goers present during the raid were allowed to leave by PDEA agents.

“It is a planned operation and we have already submitted this to the fiscal’s office and it’s up for them to investigate the case. And of course, we will conduct our own investigation on this case and of course whatever it is they (suspects) are saying, the speculations they are making, we will conduct our own investigation,” Aileen Lovitos, PDEA Director in Davao Region, told ABS-CBN News’ Rundown.

Lovitos was referring to reported claims of arrested individuals that Tupas and other party-goers were allowed to leave a beach resort in Mabini, Davao de Oro where the anti-drug operation took place on Saturday. Those arrested made the allegation in an interview with online-based Newsline Philippines.

The arrested suspects reportedly said there were around 50 party-goers, including Tupas, at the time of the raid. But the press release of PDEA stated that only 17 individuals, including the main target Revsan Ethelbert Elizalde, were arrested. Authorities seized about P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs during the operation.

“We issued our press release on November 7. And it was stated that the target was Elizalde and it was stated in our press release that the area where the operation was conducted is a beach resort. There are a lot of beachgoers there and it is a party. There’s an ongoing beach party. Kaya nasabi siguro na 50 (Maybe that’s the reason why they are saying there were 50 people),” she explained.

Following the controversy, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a statement that “last Sunday, Jefry signified his resignation and on the same moment he was informed that he is terminated from work with the City Government of Davao.” She added that Tupas “was involved in a drug raid last November 6 in the Municipality of Mabini, Province of Davao de Oro.”

Tupas admitted that he was at the beach party because he was invited to the event.

“But I left right after dinner with my boyfriend and another friend. I did not even drink,” he said.

/MUF