MUNTI COPS NAB 'POT HOUSE' LESSOR

The Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) Group of Muntinlupa City police, led by
Supt. Juvenile Sulapas, recently nabbed the alleged queen of 'pot house'
lessors in the city this morning after days of surveillance last rainy weekend.

Police identified the suspect as Imelda Malig, 34, jobless, married, and a
resident of Philippine National Railway (PNR) site, Poblacion.

Sulapas said they arrested Malig at about 10 a.m. after a tipster phoned
them that some people were having pot sessions in Malig's house.

Malig was caught in possession of a plastic sachet containing
methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with an estimated weight of .20 grams.

When arrested, Malig tearfully pointed to her mother-in-law a certain
Floreta Canete as the real mastermind behind the leasing of their house for
shabu pot session activities of their neighbors. Police, however, failed to
identify the lessees of Malig's house after the drug users fled to
different directions as police came in.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi scolded the suspect after she was presented to him,
saying she should meet the exact punishment of the law for illegal drug
users for she is not a good example to the youth.

"I asked Supalas to immediately prepare the appropriate charges against her
so people at PNR site will not follow her way. poverty or lack of food on
the table should never be used as a reason be in the illegal drugs
activities. There are always a legal and proper ways to address poverty
woes," he said.

Fresnedi commended the DEU, particularly SPO2 Giovanni Martinez, PO3 Hector
Macalla, and PO1 Reynold Aguirre, for the successful arrest of Malig.

He urged them to exert more efforts in pursuing other illegal drug-related
crimes. Police said the RA 6425 or the Dangerous Drug Law of 1972 which
Malig was found to have violated, carries an imprisonment penalty of six
months and one day and a fine of P60,000.