Republic of the Philippines Office of the President PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY NIA Northside Road, National Government Center Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City PRESS RELEASE # 397/15 DATE : September 10, 2015 AUTHORITY : UNDERSECRETARY ARTURO G. CACDAC, JR., CESE Director General For more information, text or call: Mr. Glenn J. Malapad, OIC, Public Information Office Tel. No. 929-3244, 927-9702 Loc.131; Cell phone: 09274560042 ____________________________________________________________________________________ DRUG DEN MAINTAINER, CUSTOMER ARRESTED IN SOUTH COTABATO Shabu, marijuana and drug paraphernalia confiscated A suspected drug den maintainer and a customer were arrested by anti-narcotics operatives led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a buy-bust operation in South Cotabato on September 5, 2015. PDEA Director General, Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr., identified the suspects as Alain Romel Magbanua y Almerante, 38 years old, drug den owner, married, of Purok Del Pilar, Kipalbig, Tampakan, South Cotabato; and Grace Barro y Catil, 23, single, businesswoman, of Purok Balnavo, San Roque, Koronadal City. At around 11:30 am, operatives of PDEA Regional Office 12 (PDEA RO12) under Director Lyndon P. Aspacio conducted a buy-bust operation in Purok Del Pilar, Brgy. Kipalbig, Tampakan, South Cotabato. Magbanua was arrested after he sold one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur-buyer. The operation also led to the discovery of a drug den maintained by Magbanua in his residence, where his customer, Barro was inside the drug den. Confiscated from Magbanua were 15 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu, 80 grams of dried marijuana leaves placed inside a brown carton with an estimated value of P2,800, assorted drug paraphernalia and three pieces P100 bills used as buy- bust money. Magbanua is now facing charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and Section 12 (Possession of Equipment and Other Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while Barro is charged for violation of Section 7 (Employees and Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort). # # # .