Pubdate: Fri, 12 Jul 2002
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Section: Metro Manila News
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2002
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Nikko Dizon

WOMAN RENTS OUT HOUSE TO JUNKIES

Her business savvy may have earned her a few pesos. But it was also her 
ticket to jail. Imelda Malig Infante, 34, was arrested Monday morning by 
authorities after she reportedly rented out her house in Muntinlupa City to 
drug users.

Infante, 34, of Philippine National Railways (PNR) site in Barangay 
Poblacion, was placed under surveillance over the weekend by members of the 
city police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) led by Superintendent Juvenile 
Sulapas who swooped down her house at around 10:40 a.m.

Infante was caught in possession of a small plastic sachet containing 
suspected shabu.

During investigation, Infante said renting out the house was an idea of her 
mother-in-law, Floreta Dadea.

Quoting intelligence reports, arresting officer, Senior Police Officer 2 
Giovanni Martinez, said the shabu house had been operating for at least a 
month. Ironically, the house was only a few meters away from the barangay 
hall, Martinez said.

Infante had reportedly charged between P5 to P10 for the use of the house. 
Martinez added that most of the suspect's clients were drug users between 
18-30 years old and were mostly men.

Police failed to catch a single drug user during yesterday's operation.

Nevertheless, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi commended the DEU, particularly 
Martinez, PO3 Hector Macalla, and PO1 Reynold Aguirre for the successful 
arrest of Infante but not without reminding the city's law enforcers to 
"exert more effort in pursuing other illegal drug-related crimes," a 
statement from the city government said.

Police are set to file appropriate charges against Infante.
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MAP posted-by: Beth