PDEA jails 6 HVTs, seizesP5-M illegal drugs
PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency chair Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo on Monday announced the arrest of six “high-value targets” in three separate anti-narcotics operations which resulted led in the seizure of nearly P5 million worth of shabu and marijuana over the weekend.
Two of the suspects, identified as Mohalidin Pina alias ‘Jimmy,’26; and fish vendor Rhadin Alih,29, were arrested for conspiring to sell some 500 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P3.4 million to an undercover officer of the PDEA National Capital Region at the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in Barangay 666 in Manila past 3 p.m. Saturday, the official said.
Members of the PDEA Regional Office IV-A Special Enforcement Team were also involved in the sting which led to the recovery of the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill. The two were found to be residents of Baseco, Port Area Manila.
Two other suspects, identified as Alex Basman,37; and Omar Macapundag,34, both residents of Calauag, Quezon, were arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Barangay Caranglaan, Dagupan City in Pangasinan around 2 p.m. Sunday.
Confiscated from the them were two heat-sealed plastic sachets containing some 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 and the marked money paid to them by an undercover agent from the PDEA Pangasinan Provincial Office.
Other operatives from the PDEA La Union Provincial Office and Seaport Interdiction Unit 2 as well as the Dagupan City Police Station also participated in the successful operation.
The fifth amd sixth suspects, identified as Reygine Rangpas,27; and Dennis Brioso,24, both farmers-turned-HVTs, were arrested in a buy-bust in Bgy. D’ Leaño in Claveria, Cagayan 9:50 a.m. Sunday.
Members of the PDEA Regional Office 2 recovered a plastic bag containing some 60 grams of shabu worth P408,000 and around six kilograms of dried marijuana leaves valued at P720,000, the buy-bust money, two mobile phones, assorted documents and identification cards. The tricycle they used in transporting the drugs was impounded.
Rangpas is a resident of Bgy. San Juan in Praxedes, Cagayan while Brioso is from Bgy. San Antonio in Claveria municipality.
All six 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, said the PDEA leadership.
