PHILIPPINE National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director Colonel Dionisio B. Bartolome Jr. on Saturday said they have arrested 22 drug suspects and recovered P1.8 million worth of shabu in anti-narcotics operations.

In a report to PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., the official said their operations in Mabalacat City, Pampanga at around 3:40 a.m. Friday resulted in the dismantling of a drug dive located along Magsaysay St. in Barangay Dau.

Col. Bartolome said members of the PDEG Special Operations Unit 3, with the support of other police units, arrested Francisco Rivera, 42; Cheska Reyes, 19; Harvey Rivera, 22; Jerry Nadonga, 39; Roderick Magsino, 50; Reynalin Macairan, 34; and Edgardo Lising, 59, during the operation.

Confiscated during the operation were 25 grams of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Six other suspects, Aeron Andal, 25; Stephanie Espinosa, 20; Maria Aliguin, 27; Samuel Gallardo, 58; Aude Medel, 23; and Friddie Denisa, 52, were arrested in a sting in Bgy. Singcang Airport in Bacolod City by PDEG operatives at 11 p.m. Thursday.

Col. Bartolome said that recovered inside the local drug den were 75 grams of shabu worth P510,000, a marked P1,000 bill and several drug sniffing paraphernalia.

Three other suspects–Abdulkahar Balabaran, 42; Namraida Lumayon, 38; and Mohaimen Dimalen, 22–were arrested in a buy-bust by PDEG Bangsamoro Administrative Region agents at Pascual Subdivision in Bgy. Rosary Heights in Cotabato City around 2:30 a.m. Friday.

Recovered during the operation were around 100 grams of shabu valued at P68,000, three M-16 automatic rifles, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a cal. .45 pistol and various live ammunition.

The 17th suspect, Russel Villanueva, 46, was arrested in Bgy. Centro Occidental in Polangui, Albay at around 9:55 a.m. Friday.

Recovered from the suspect were 77 grams of shabu valued at P246,6000, the buy-bust money and several drug paraphernalia.

Five other wanted drug personalities were also hauled to jail, the colonel said.

Bartolome said one of the suspects, identified as Richard Corsino, 39, was arrested in a buy-bust in a waiting shed in Purok 12, Bgy. San Vicente in Butuan City around 1:40 a.m. Sunday.

The suspect yielded eight sachets containing about 17 grams of shabu worth P115,600.

Another target, Christian Tapayan alias Payatot, 28, was arrested in a buy-bust in Bgy. Poblacion in Initao, Misamis Oriental around 11:40 p.m. Sunday.

The official said that confiscated from the possession of the suspects were two plastics containing approximately 25 grams of shabu worth P170,000.

The PDEG director said that a 3rd suspect, Laurence Gapuiz, alias Pilay, 46, was arrested in Brgy. Poblacion, Manaoag at around 8:30 a.m. last Wednesday.

The suspect was placed under arrest after the search resulted in the recovery of some five grams of shabu worth P34,000 and several live ammunition.