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Suspected ‘ice’ trafficker falls, 4 others arrested for burglary
A suspected trafficker of methamphetamine or “ice” was arrested yesterday, while four others were apprehended early this week for two separate burglaries on Saipan.
Songtao Gu, 42, also known as Another Way, Little Small Kingdom, and Gambler, was arrested on charges of trafficking of a controlled substance and illegal possession of a controlled substance.
Alvin Agulto Camacho, 43, and Franklin Tudela Pangelinan, 40, were apprehended for alleged burglary and theft.
Joaquin Reyes Crisostomo, 38, was held on charges of burglary, assault, assault and battery, resisting arrest, and disturbing the peace.
Waedynne Cepeda Maratita, 26, was detained for alleged burglary, assault, and disturbing the peace.
At yesterday’s hearing, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed a $100,000 cash bail on Gu and $10,000 cash bail each on Camacho, Pangelinan, Crisostomo, and Maratita.
According to the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force, a cooperating defendant was able to purchase $150 worth of “ice” from Gu last Feb. 17 at the latter’s house in Garapan.
The cooperating defendant allegedly managed to buy $80 more worth of “ice” from Gu during a “buy-walk” operation at his house last Tuesday.
In the case against Camacho and Pangelinan, police arrested the two on Monday morning after they allegedly went back to the house they had burglarized on Capital Hill. Police allegedly found inside their car some of the items that were stolen from the house last Friday.
In the third case, Crisostomo and Maratita allegedly broke into a house on Capital Hill on Monday morning after the couple left the residence, leaving behind their daughter. The girl was shocked and frightened upon seeing a woman, who was later identified as Maratita, holding a metal object and telling her not to move.
When Maratita exited the house, the girl grabbed a knife from the kitchen and called her parents. The girl’s father immediately went back and saw the suspects’ car. The father blocked the car with his vehicle.
The father struggled with Crisostomo. Police officers then arrived and secured Crisostomo.
