Scions of prominent families held for “shabu”
By Jani Arnaiz
First posted 13:34 December 19, 2009
MAASIN CITY – A crack team from the regional offices of PDEA and CIDG have arrested two scions of prominent political families here dawn on Saturday.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group team arrested Manuel Enage IV and Gerard Yñiguez at around 2:30 a.m. at a sing-along joint and brought them to the house of Enage where they searched the room of the suspect on the strength of a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Cresente S. Maraya of RTC branch 11 of Calubian in Leyte province, more than 100 km from the city.
Enage is a son of lawyer Manuel Enage II, former administrative officer of Provincial Engineering Office at the Capitol and Luz Adobas Enage, a candidate for city councilor under the NPC banner of former Gov. Rosette Yñiguez Lerias, who is running for city mayor. While Yñiguez, is an adopted son of Lerias’ late brother Gabriel Yñiguez.
According to Nicanor Lanugon, a reporter of a local radio station, who was part of the search team representing the media, the suspects were already handcuffed outside Enage’s house when he arrived after he was fetched by a CIDG agent to witness the search.
Lanugon said the room was found negative of shabu, an illegal drug substance but seven bullets for a 22 caliber pistol was found.
The reporter added that there was an altercation between the raiding team numbering about 20 men and Enage’s father and his uncle Manuel Enage Jr, also a lawyer when the lawyer prevented the team from entering the house unless they identify themselves and show the search warrant.
Lanugon said that after they searched the room, some agents were already inventorying four sachets of suspected shabu, 2 cellphones, 3 aluminum foils, 2 lighters, P1,975 in cash and a 22 caliber pistol with seven live ammunition.
The suspects were brought to Tacloban City by the government agents in four cars accompanied by Enage’s father and uncle.
Lanugon added that the mother of suspect decried that the evidences were only planted and the search was politically motivated because she is running under the opposition.
Two days earlier, one Archie Salas, a nursing student in one of the colleges here was also arrested for shabu.
Salas is said to follow his parents, Manuel and Ynday Salas who have migrated to USA, after graduation.
Something smells fishy! Based on the contents of this article, the search warrant was issued by a Judge Maraya of Calubian, Leyte. However, there’s no mention of an arrest warrant for Manuel Enage IV and Gerard Yniguez. To me this sounds like law enforcement started with “unlawful detention” of the individuals while they were being transported from the sing-along outfit to Enage’s home. Another thing that makes it funny is that a reporter has been made to witness the implementation of the search warrant in Enage’s home. It appears to me that this thing is pre-cooked! I have a strong notion that this episode is politically motivated from the git-go in light of the upcoming election. It has been proven in the past that politicians resort to this kind of modus operandi. They never realize that the public actually perceive them as getting desperately weak (I remember Roger Mercado’s sheer desperation when he publicly fired upon Odong Saludo with his M16! What a jerk!), most especially when they become aware of the strong qualifications of the “unknown CoC’s” and the public’s outcry for better governance. They’re getting nervous because the “unknowns” have not been tainted yet with personal anomalies or alleged inuendos. So, the bad guys have to start it somehow one way or another, by hook or by crook! It seems like history of desperation among least achieved politicians is repeating itself in another type of format. Tsk, tsk, tsk…
One more thing about search warrants – a judge can only issue it if or when law enforcement authorities, acting on a tip or report, have enough “Probable Cause upon an alleged criminal act. If a credible report or tip was ever received by the authorities, the source of information would have to be from a local individual who knows about the activities of M. Enage IV and G. Yniguez (if they indeed are shabu users). Meanwhile, why does the issuing judge have to be from Calubian? Are the authorities or crooked politicians trying to isolate the local (Maasin) public from suspecting corruption by using a judge from outside of Southern Leyte? Whatever happened to jurisdictional constraints here?
Another thing – if I was the homeowner, I would not have allowed the reporter to come inside the house if he was not specifically mentioned in the search warrant. Search warrants only are applicable to law enforcement officers when the search is conducted within the privacy of an individual’s place of abode. I’d wonder under what power the CDIG agents have when Nicanor Lanugon became included in the search team? I am not a lawyer, but to me some people’s heads may end up swimming due to potential weakness of the prosecution’s case. It seems like a counter-lawsuit is in the making!
Hang on to your breeches, Folks! The charade is only going to get better.
Cheers, from Afghanistan…
(Media and barangay officials where a search is conducted are required as witnesses to the veracity of the search. ed)
its hard to deal with millennium who has some kind of deficit mental status.
lets move on.
actually its time for a change . give others a chance.
@ epic –
Uh, under this article, 7th Millennium hadn’t posted his comments yet. Umm, let’s leave him alone for now. We’ll just get at him again the next time he starts his rant style.
just wait . the millennium will. he still thinking.how to ekis ekis it.
this is cheryl. 1m 8 years old.
sir daniel espere: where do you sleep during the war.
hey man thats my niece.
she thought you sleep in the big hole in the ground.so the enemy cannot see you.
You are completely out of line from the above headline by commenting and giving false medical science-related charges against the 7th Millennium as you wrote the following sentences:
“its hard to deal with millennium who has some kind of deficit mental status.”
“just wait . the millennium will. he still thinking.how to ekis ekis it.”
any updates on this shabu story.
thanks
@ ed
(Media and barangay officials where a search is conducted are required as witnesses to the veracity of the search. ed)
****************
Please satisfy my curiousity about who or what “requires” the media to witness the veracity of (warrant) searches? With law enforcement oifficials, whom I regard as public servants who are just performing their respective vested public authority, I don’t see it a problem. But with private enterprises (reporters/newspapers) who have vested interest in what they do for their organization (or potentially for supported politicians), that I have a big time problem conceiving.
Mr. ed, if you can convince me of something written authenticating that the witnessing of the event by a reporter was in accordance with certain provisions of any law of the land, then I will humbly stand corrected, and duly concede. I fully understand the power of the media (as some of them tend to take political sides), but mind you, my conservative self always think for the “people” first – first and foremost, bar none. Thank you in advance, Sir… and, on behalf of all Maasinhons and Southern Leytenos here and abroad, thank you for following the online suit of MaasinCity.Com and SouthernLeyteTimes.Com. Your endeavor is also invaluable!
mr.millemmiun:
it doesnt matter if im on line or off. the point is you
have been acting like a jerk , anf full of s t.
focus on southern leyte..dont be wanderig to sweden, norway,
australia and russia .we have enough to talk about in so.leyte.
plus i dont have money for an airfare to those places,
are you having ‘ illussions of grandeur again.
or maybe your circle of willis is having short circuit.
let me know. im trying to understand you.so long.
stop telling people what to do.
@daniel espere:
the son of antonio reyes of SLT work for
congressman mercado. expect some BIAS THERE.
@epic:
Thanks for the info. I’ve already known it for some time that Antonio Reyes is scared of his own shadow as far as the Mercado brothers are concerned. For him and his paper, it is “Live and Let Live” as opposed to “Live and Let Die”.
EPIC says:
“…plus i dont have money for an airfare to those places,”
This writer was a working student when he traveled abroad to complete his college education. He traveled by “fly now, pay later plan” and worked at 2 American colleges in the custodial or janitorial department. He did it despite his Professional Civil Service Eligibility and 5.5 years of accredited college credits he previously earned in 2 colleges in the Philippines. As required by the American college entrance standards, he had to sacrifice having his credits deducted to full-one year. Also, due to the student-visa laws, he was not allowed to work over 20 hours per week during his active student visa status. The limited working hours was the equivalent of the “Death March” from Bataan to ….
Please continue your negative name calling in a Forum Section. We are just “house guests” of Online Reporter and you are attacking this writer inside the Reporter’s house when you wrote the following:
are you having ‘ illussions of grandeur again.
or maybe your circle of willis is having short circuit.
let me know. im trying to understand you.so long.
stop telling people what to do.
FYI everyone:
A reliable source just disclosed that the Mercados sent their henchman Boomboom Demeterio to negotiate with the Enages. They want Luz Enage to withdraw her candidacy as councelor in exchange for her son’s freedom. Now this recent happening just confirmed Daniel Espere’s suspicions. Ha ha ha believe it or not!
Also, I’ve heard that the infamous Mercado brothers just sent word to Dundeet Lerias that she is up against several hundreds of millions of pesos when her party can’t even raise the necessary funds to print their own posters.
You be the judge – are these tactics of coercion or harrassment or what would you call it if you were the candidate? If they really think they can win this upcoming electin by buying votes, then why the hell would they bother going to extremes by harrassing or coercing other candidates. Is this how low they really are from their standpoint of morality or common decency?
You know, the more the Mercado brothers do stupid things, the more we find out about their crookedness! I’d say let’s all boot them out. Enough is enough!
from epic: the son of antonio reyes of SLT work for
congressman mercado. expect some BIAS THERE.
from Daniel Espere: ” …. it for some time that Antonio Reyes is scared of his own shadow as far as the Mercado brothers are concerned. For him and his paper, it is “Live and Let Live” as opposed to “Live and Let Die”.
Pakapin nga inpormasyon: Nahimong Presidente ang asawa ni Anthony Kings (aka Antonio Reyes) sa SLSU tungod ni Kong. Mercado, mao nga dako kaajo ug utang kabubut-on. Gibase sa mga sulti2x sa mga taga akademya: ang pagka-Presidente ni Gloria sa SLSU makauwaw kaajo, kay gikuot man ang proseso sa pagpili.
@maasin sentinel:
how come the saludo- lerias group are not saying anything.
are the being passive.
any updates in that shabu case . are they in prison in tacloban.
katingalahan jud.
Isang mapaghimalang Pasko sa ating lahat!
First and foremost, with all due respect, pls forgive my ignorance.
I have 2 questions in light of the article above. Im just very confused.
First, why an RTC Judge issued a search warrant when he is from Calubian?
2nd, why the suspects were brought to Tacloban City?
Is this the right procedure?
Salamat!
merry christmas.
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Child is given.
Isaiah 9: 6-7
ha hai! basic ampatuan style….maghinaot ko nga mag mata na unta ang taga southern leyte samtang naa pa chance…..sabagay maayong pagkatulog kay naa man ang kwarta nag paypay, labi na sa panahon sa election. maayong pasko kaninyong tanan
if you dont change, if you dont wake up and see the need for a change.
then dont COMPLAIN. ITS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
@ MAASIN SENTINEL… A reliable source just disclosed that the Mercados sent their henchman Boomboom Demeterio to negotiate with the Enages. They want Luz Enage to withdraw her candidacy as councelor in exchange for her son’s freedom.
aho i deretso… to NEGOTIATE and WITHDRAW Luz ENAGE… dli sa pang hambog noh, kini nga source perting ka bulaos na kaajo… ikaw pud Maasin Sentinel… hunahunaa pag ajo… ug mo ingon ka nga i NEGOTIATE ang usa ka tao pagpa WITHDRAW… meaning kusgan ng tawhana… kay ngano? WINNABLE BA NA SI LUZ ENAGE??? daghang KWARTA pro dli WINNABLE… pipila ray mo boto ana nja???
kana nga case sa ijang anak…. hesus bai, high school pako ADIK na na CJA!!! dha naman gani na nahitabo sa SJC ng gpatawag na cla mga barkadaha ka dihay usa sa baje ming sumbong sa ilang SHABU SHABU…. kamo na lang mo timbang timbang…
mao ni aho na kam kam ng storya ambot pud unsa ka tinuod….sa pipila ka semana ming agi dhay na dakpan sa Maasin ug Shabu kanang si Salas, human tingale g patug-an ug kinsa pa manga adik sa maasin, ming pia-et ni si Salas nga kanang TAVERN mao na hagbungan kay ang tag-ija adik pud. mao nga g pa dad-an ug secret agent nga nag disguise ug sekse unja liberated nga baje, unja kay kini diayng si Boyet (Manuel Enage IV) kay chicks boy man diay ni bisan gwapa na kaajo ijang asawa. nabihag sa chicks pag ingon sa chicks nga mo palit ug shabu kay pang kunsomo nija g hakaran dajun, unja kay naka ujon man, ming abot sa point nga ijang librehun ang baje…. huna huna tali sa laki nga magamit jud ko ani… sunod eksena, didto sa gawas sa tavern diha g palit ang laki, ming hunong ang usa ka van ning naug ang baje unja ning hunong ang usa napud ka van unja ning naog ang nga agent g kap kapan ang laki sus kay ming sukol man kay nag bitbit man diay ug pusil sus na doble ang kaso….
ambot mao mana istorya dre sa mga tambay sa maasin…. pag tambay lagi mo para maka sagap mo ug balita…
ako utrohun, dli ko maka Mercado, dli pud ko maka Lerias or Odong…. pro sa ahong tan-aw karon… kusgan pa jud kaajo ang mga Mercado… dli saktong panahon nga mo sangka kanila…
parehas ba sa mga time sa Ynguez-Lerias … sa sila pay kusgan wa jud maka pildi nila… pana panahon lagi….
naa ko nakit-an sa Facebook…. LERIAS for a CHANGE… naki sakay man tawn ka sa uso nga CHANGE oi…
as much as we would like to change the Mercado’s… Politcal Dynasty!!!!
What change can you make if during the time of your mother, you were not showing any examples of changing the way of life at Southern Leyte Capitol where corruptions and some dirtiest political strategy is planned and executed?
ako utrohun — para naho, mahitabo ang menus ug limbong kung ang moboto ang mga educado lang ug mga naay trabaho ang walay trabaho wai apil, dli lang kay naay trabaho, trabaho jud nga regular employee dli casual…. mao na nga time nga managana ang modagan basta walay utok kay dli tanan ma palit sa kuarta, kay ang majority sa mapalit sa kandidato kadtong walay trabaho nga wala jud nag bajad sa mga taxes unja cla pa ang kusog maka pa pili ug kandidato unja ang mahitabo ang kadtong naay trabaho nga mag cge bajad ug taxes… mao ang maalaut….
when that time will come… maybe you can say LERIAS for a CHANGE!!!
Sus mamaklarav… wala jud ka makaila mam dondet. Ka swerte sa probinsya nga mosugot siya modagan og usob. Ka usik sa higayon kung dili pahimuslan sa mga tawo. Tinuod jud na nga dili ka kita nija sa kapitolyo sa panahon ni mam roset kay dili jud na gara2-on. Pero kung patabangon sa probinsya wala jud daghan pangutana. Ambot na lang sa mga tawo sa probinsya kung dili sila kakita sa dakong dipirensya sa mga kandidato. Ato na jud sala kung magpabilin tang buta. Moabot jud ang panahon nga sulogo-on na lang jud tang tanan sa mga Mercado.
@painitan:
dondet was really my choice 4 years ago. i think they did not count
my vote. or gi erase ba. what ever happen they did it did not count it.
bitaw. plus smarter pod na sija [ DONDET] compared to mian.
WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT CAN SPEAK IN THE WORLD STAGE
VOTE FOR DONDET aron dili na ma papa o mawmaw asab and southern leyte
again.
sus PAINITAN : naka ila jud ko ni dundette… maka ingon ko nga sa ijang intellect dli jud maka lupig ang mga Mercado nja, Pro hangtud ba jud diay karon wapa ka kahibaw sa philippine politics? dli lang kay intellect ang makapa daug sa mga eleksyon, kung DILI KUARTA!!! mao na Number 1!!!
Bahin sa ijang ka dili gara gara on, mo tuo ko ana nga parte kay kapila pud ko nja ka himamat, pro ug tinu uray jud cja, nganong waman cja ka himo ug CHANGES sa ilang panahon? If she really for a CHANGE the attitude shows right there and then not because CHANGE is the TREND in Politics where Pres. Obama is using it and Noynoy is using it.
Unja ingon ka, dli ka tigo ug buta ang mga tao kay dli kita sa deperensya sa mga kandidato. Ang mga klase sa tao nga educado, maka kita ug sila ra ang mo boto mo daug ang intellect nga tao, pro pipila ra ta sa mga katigo mo pili? unja sa edukado kuhaan pa jud na sa mga relatives ug naay utang kabubut-on, so pla na lang ang maka pili.
ang mga tao nga wai trabaho ug mga casual employee, mao na cla ang daghan, so sila ang imo kumbensihun.