PDEA notes growing number of female pushers

By Mariel Gabriel

Friday 13th of July 2012

QUEZON CITY, July 13 -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has observed the increasing number of females involved in illegal drug activities, particularly drug pushing.

In a press statement, PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr. said 213 female drug personalities (135 pushers, 51 possessors, 16 users, four drug maintainers, five traffickers, two cohorts) have already been arrested nationwide since January 2012 to present.

Three female drug personalities were also arrested in separate buy-bust operations of PDEA recently.

Last July 7, a 37-year-old widow and her brother were arrested by a team composed of personnel from PDEA Regional Office 12, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army. A search warrant was served against the suspects at their residence in Sarangani Province. They yielded two plastic sachets of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Another 50-year-old female pusher was also arrested in the same day by elements of PDEA Regional Office 7 under Director Jigger Montallana in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City after she sold two plastic sachets of shabu to a PDEA poseur-buyer. The suspected pusher yielded additional 21 plastic sachets of shabu.

Combined elements of PDEA Regional Office 11 and PNP arrested a 25-year-old female in Digus City, Davao del Sur, during a buy-bust operation after she sold one plastic sachet of shabu to a PDEA agent acting as buyer. Also recovered was one plastic sachet of shabu.

The siblings in Sarangani face charges for violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) and Section 12 (possession of paraphernalia), Article II of the Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while charges for selling (Section 5) and possession of dangerous drugs (Section 11), Article II of RA 9165, are being prepared for filing in court against the two other females. (PDEA/PIA)