Boxer caught using ‘shabu’ in Manduae drug bust

A PROFESSIONAL boxer was allegedly caught sniffing shabu when police arrested two brothers in a drug buy-bust operation in barangay Banilad, Mandaue City, Thursday night.

Mark Jason Melligen said depression forced him to use illegal drugs.

Aside from Melligen, police also arrested 21-year-old Joembee Mark Sencio and his 16-year-old brother.

Supt. Josefino Ligan, chief of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said police have been monitoring the Sencios for their alleged involvement in illegal drug trade.

Police said the suspects have been selling shabu since 2011 and were capable of disposing of five grams of shabu worth P55,000 a week.

Ligan said the 16-year-old boy was the one who transacted with prospected clients.

Police said that around 9 p.m. Thursday, a poseur-buyer bought two packs of suspected shabu from Joembee and his brother outside their house on P. Remedio Street in sitio Vito.

Police arrested the two brothers after they accepted the buy-bust money worth P500 from the poseur-buyer.

Police said four packs of suspected shabu were seized from Joembee’s possession.

Police spotted Melligen allegedly using shabu in the brothers’ in the house and arrested him.

Recovered from the possession of Melligen were aluminum foil strips with traces of suspected shabu, a disposable lighter and an improvised tooter.

Melligen, a native of Negros Occidental, said he has been struggling financially and has been homeless since losing a fight in Texas, USA last 2011.

Melligen also accused his trainer of not giving his purse amounting to P500,000.

Melligen is a former stalwart of the ALA Boxing Promotions.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said Melligen parted ways with the promotional outfit two years ago.

Aldeguer said when the boxer was still under the stable, his purse was directly given to him.

“ All purses go directly to the fighters as the check is addressed to the fighter not to the promoter. What Mark will do with the money was up to him,” said Aldeguer.

“ I think that his issue regarding his purse is the result of his current situation. He is undergoing a lot of personal problems,” Aldeguer added .

The boxing promoter said he was saddened with the controversy surrounding Melligen.

“It’s a shocking thing for us in ALA Promotions and ALA Boxing Gym because he was a promising boxer,” he said.

Aldeguer revealed that Top Rank released Melligen after his loss against Sebastian Andres Lujan of Argentina last 2011 in Texas,USA.

Melligen has a record of 23 wins with 16 knockouts and three losses.

Melligen won his two fights last year held in Misamis Occidental and Pasay City.