Five jeepney drivers were arrested in the act of having a pot session in Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City at about 9:50 a.m. yesterday.

Nabbed in a stakeout operation conducted by the Bacolod City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group were Jeremias Benigay Deanon, 37, married, of Villa Servando, Brgy. Calong-Calong Airport, and Jomarie Borres Loyola, 29, single, of Purok Paglaum, Brgy. Taculing, both in Bacolod City; Joebert Cosio Jaro, 29, single, and Vicente Peduche Francisco, 43, married, both of Brgy. Dula, Bago City; and Romelo Gaylon Legaspina, 37, married, of Burgos Street, Murcia town, Negros Occidental, police reports said.

Recovered from them were an improvised tooter with visible traces of suspected shabu, 12 disposable lighters, five empty sachets, a pair of scissors, several rolled aluminum foils and an improvised bamboo clip, police reports said.

PO3 Claro Gordoncillo, a CAIDSOTG operative, told the DAILY STAR their group spotted Jaro who was acting suspiciously. He said Jaro ran towards the house of Carmen Isio, 73, where his four other companions were having a pot session.

Isio told the DAILY STAR yesterday that, at first, she did not allow the group to hold the illegal activity in her house, but they kept coming and paid her P3 to P10 each for every pot session.

Meanwhile, Jaro, a PUJ driver in the Pta. Tay-Central Maket route, claimed he was on his way home when the policemen arrested him. He said he has no idea about the pot session nor did he know the other drivers arrested by the police.

Police records show that Loyola has committed 31 traffic violations, 24 of them traffic obstruction, others for disregarding traffic signs and signal, inappropriate attire while driving, being an arrogant driver, lack of trash and litter receptacle.

Francisco, Deanon, Legapisna and Loyola refused to comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City police director Senior Supt. Pedro Merced said he will recommend the cancellation of their driver's license to the Land Transportation Office.

Charges for violation of sections 12 and 15 of Republic Act 9165, or Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 are being readied against Isio and the suspects, Merced said.

Merced said he will call the attention of public utility vehicle owners and operators because of the incident. He also said he will coordinate with the LTO to check the reliability of the drug test conducted on those applying for a driver's license.

Meanwhile, Antonio Norma Saril, Transportation Regulatory Officer of the Land Transportation Office-Bacolod yesterday said the illegal activity of the drivers was beyond their control. He said the authority of the LTO do to conduct drug testing on drivers had been transferred to the Control and Supervision of the Department of Health two years ago. The LTO only refers them to laboratories accredited and supervised by the DOH.

The LTO only relies on the drug test results submitted to them by the drivers when they process their licenses, Saril said.*DMG

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