Drug courier reveals shabu trade within provincial capitol complex

CAMALIGAN, Camarines Sur (Jan 10, 2012) – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and police intelligence personnel are looking into the claims of illegal drug trade in the capital town of Pili and the Provincial Capitol compound by a confessed illegal drug courier who was rescued by the local police in this town during the weekend.

In a confession-affidavit, Saidemen Pao Devonsah, 21, a native of Iligan City and a temporary resident of Latex, Cubao, Quezon City, admitted that he is an illegal drug courier transporting shabu from Metro Manila to a client in the capital town of Pili, Camarines Sur.

Devonsah claimed that he was in Pili in December 2011 and delivered some P28,000 pesos worth of shabu to a certain “Joven,” a drug-dealer operating in the said locality and delivering illegal drugs to some clients at the Provincial Capitol compound of Camarines Sur.

Devonsah stated in his affidavit that he was back in Pili this January to collect a balance of P15, 000 pesos from his client 10 days after the delivery of shabu.

But he claimed that during his recent visit to Pili last week, he was warned by Joven that PDEA agents were after him and while riding a jeepney bound for Naga City, he was chased by men riding-in-tandem in several motorcycles and a blue-van.

The group allegedly followed him to Naga City until he took a tricycle bound for Camaligan where he was forced to flee on foot at barangay San Roque, even removing his clothes while crossing a creek to escape.

Some women washing clothes at the creek claimed to have seen Devonsah being chased by some men.

Devonsah, clad only in underwear with bruises on the body and wounds on his left feet, was reportedly later rescued by several barangay tanod and brought to the Camaligan police station by San Marcos barangay chairman Danilo Villamor.

According to Camaligan police chief investigator PO3 Antonio Cea, Devonsah sought police custody for 24-hours for fear of his life.

Cea said Devonsah left the police station the following day accompanied by some local radio reporters.

Police intelligence sources said Devonsah’s revelation confirms reports released as early as 2009 that shabu is circulating in Camarines Sur’s capital town and clients include alleged drug users inside a leading tourist destination in the locality. (SONNY SALES)