Nearly P9M shabu seized, 4 ‘HVTs’ arrested
FOUR known “high-value targets” in Metro Manila were arrested in three separate operations conducted by operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) which resulted in the seizure of nearly P9 million worth of shabu last Friday, PNP chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said.
Two of the suspects identified as Kimberly Teves, 19, and Christine Joy Caballero, 18, both residents of San Jose Street, Bgy, E. Aldaña in Las Piñas City, were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Tramo St. in Bgy. Manuyo conducted by agents of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) under Brigadier Gen. Remus B. Medina 1:15 p.m. Friday.
Recovered from the possession of the two teenagers were seven plastic sachets containing an estimated 250 grams of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” valued at P1.7 million, the boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill and a mobile phone they used in making contact with the poseur-buyer.
Members of the PNP-DEG Special Operations Unit 5 led by Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Gutierrez, with the assistance of the Las Piñas City Police Station and the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 5, spearheaded the sting.
Both suspects are now under the custody of the PNP-DEG.
The 3rd suspect identified as Herwin Tee, a 38-year-old resident of Sta. Ana, Manila was arrested in a sting which led in the confiscation of some 500 grams of shabu worth P3.4 million on Friday afternoon.
Members of the PDEA under Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva arrested the suspect who was tagged as a major distributor of shabu in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces since last July.
Recovered from the suspect were four plastic sachets containing the drugs and the marked money paid to him by an undercover agent.
The 4th suspect identified as Diana Camille Basa, 28, was arrested by members of the Quezon City Police District Station 4 and the PDEA during an entrapment operation along NIA Road in Bgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City 4:15 p.m. Friday.
The suspect yielded 500 grams of shabu worth P3.4 million and the boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill. The drugs were found inside an orange tea pack labeled Alishan Jin Xuan Tea.
National Capital Region Police Office director Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. said the QCPD headed by Brig. Gen. Antonio C. Yarra is still conducting follow-up operations to identify and arrest the main source of the drugs recovered from Basa.
All four suspects are now facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
