12 Boracay ‘lady boys’ involved in pot session, buy-bust nabbed

Gorna, Manikin, Scarlet, Casey, Maxine, Diana, Cathy, Opyong. Sounds familiar, while you are strolling in the beach front of Boracay Island?

They were part of the twelve ‘lady boys’ who were arrested in an anti-drug operation on November 6 in Barangay Balabag. 

Charged for violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were residents of Cebu City, General Santos City and the provinces of Aklan and Cebu. The suspects were staying in a resort in Barangay Balabag during the police operation.

Police Officer 2 Juno Gregorio, case investigator of Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC),  said Mark Galicia alias Manikin, 23, from New Washington, Aklan sold sachets of shabu to a poseur buyer in a resort at around 8:45 p.m. During the buy-bust operation, the policemen also saw eleven other ‘lady boys’ having a pot session inside their rented room. 

Police identified the gay suspects as Alvin  Tampos alias Bortamay, 23, from Mandaue City, Cebu; Rafael Ybanez alias Diana, 30, from Mualbual, Cebu; Kim Gador Delicano alias Gorna, 25, from Punta Prinsesa, Cebu City; Jestoni Tonic alias Scarlet, 26, from General Santos City and Harlie Verano, 26, from Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Also arrested from Aklan were Ronelio Sollano alias Cathy, 20, from Poblacion, Ibajay; Michael Dave Salcedo alias Ashley, 24, from Purok 1, C. Laserna Street, Kalibo; John Barry Camua alias Opyong, 22, from Ochando, New Washington; Hilmar Celestino alias Marie, 30, from Rizal Street, Poblacion, Kalibo; Aldwin Kirk Abello alias Maxine, 30, from Acevedo Street, Kalibo; and John Aldrin Francisco alias Cassey, 22, Rizal Street, Poblacion, Kalibo.

Galicia is facing charges for violation of Section 5 (pushing of illegal drugs) and Section 6 (maintenance of a drug den). The 11 other suspects will be charged with violations of Section 11 (possession of illegal drugs) and 7 (visitors of a drug den). 

In a phone interview, Gregorio also clarified that Galicia did not fled from the police operatives during the buy-bust operation.

“All of them were inside their rented room and were spotted having a pot session. They were all arrested,” he added.  

Recovered inside the room were drug paraphernalia and 20 sachets of suspected shabu.  Police also seized the P2,000 marked money from Galicia. 

The suspects were temporarily detained at BTAC lock-up cell pending formal inquest proceedings in Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Kalibo, Aklan. 

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL