Ex-model arrested for drugs in Taytay

Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and local police arrested a former men’s magazine model during a buy-bust operation in Taytay, Rizal on Wednesday afternoon.

At a press conference on Thursday, PDEA officer-in-charge Gregorio Pimentel identified the suspect as Charlene “Cindy” Mecayer, 24. She was arrested at her apartment in Greenwood Executive Village in Barangay Sta. Ana.

"Ang sabi ng ating operatives, meron siyang group of clients and as I said they are the clients of beautiful people. They have their own market also. Hindi siya sa street level, sa mga slums," Pimentel said.

"Involved siya sa marketing paraphernalia used in illegal drugs at marketing and selling illegal drugs," he added.

Authorities seized suspected shabu worth P68,000, three pieces of ecstasy tablet worth P4,500, P500 buy-bust money and various drug paraphernalia from Mecayer.

The suspect will be facing charges for violating Sections 5 and 12 of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Mecayer, who is jobless, admitted that the illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia were seized from her possession.

"Pinatrabaho lang po ako... Ako lang po nakikipag-transact, 'yung mga bumibili po, binibigay ko po. Through text lang po," Mecayer said, adding that she is not earning from what she is doing.

Mecayer, who was a model in 2013, said most of her customers were foreigners.

In a separate operation, Pimentel said Mecayer's source of illegal drugs was nabbed in Barangay Malibay, Pasay City. She was identified as Emily Patanao Dudley.

Pimentel said suspected shabu worth P340,000 was seized from the suspect as well as a cellular phone and boodle money.

Meanwhile, Pimentel said authorities are looking into the possibility that ride-hailing applications are being used to deliver narcotics to drug users.

Pimentel also said some drug paraphernalia such as tooters are being sold at E-commerce giant Lazada.

"There is already communication with Lazada about this. We are working this matter with Lazada and we are also looking on the possible liability of these platform operators," he added.

PDEA bared in September that some drug paraphernalia are already available online.

Lazada earlier vowed to cooperate with PDEA in looking into the alleged sale of drug paraphernalia on its online shopping platforms. —KBK, GMA News