A series of anti-narcotics operations led by agents of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) on Saturday and Sunday resulted in the seizure of at least 990 kilograms of high-grade shabu worth at least P6.7 billion and the arrest of several ‘high-value targets,’ one of them a policeman, officials said.

“This historic afternoon, we are witnessing probably the biggest drug haul in the history of the Philippines,” said Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. as he congratulated the PNP headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. for the huge drug accomplishment.

Azurin said the 1st operation on 1742 Jose Abad Santos Street in Barangay 252 in Tondo, Manila was conducted 4:45 p.m. Saturday by undercover officers from the PNP-DEG headed by Brigadier Gen. Narciso D. Domingo.

The sting resulted in the arrest of Ney Saligumba Atadero alias ‘Mario,’ a 50-year old resident of 1448 Leon Guinto St. in Ermita, Manila. Confiscated during the operation were more than 900 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion.

Domingo described the lending firm as an ‘illegal drug front’ where huge volumes of shabu are allegedly being stocked by the suspects.

“Marami pang buhay ng ating mga kababayan lalo na ang mga kabataan ang naisalba natin dahil sa operation na ito,” he said.

Following the Tondo, Manila sting, the PNP-DEG conducted a hot pursuit operation which led to the arrest of Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Confiscated from the cop’s possession were two kilos of shabu worth P13.4 million and the buy-bust money.

PMSgt. Mayo was described as a 48-year old member of the PNP-DEG Special Operations Unit-National Capital Region residing in Guimba, Nueva Ecija.

“As I have said before, we will not tolerate any wrongdoings by any of our men. This is part of our ongoing massive internal cleansing program,” said Azurin as he encouraged local government units to conduct regular surprise inspection of private business offices in their areas to check if they are being used in illegal activities.

Azurin said they are waiting for more revelations from MSgt. Mayo including the possibility that more active policemen and other law enforcement agents are in cahoots with their syndicate

Domingo said that based on pieces of evidence they recovered which include some receipts, documents and personal notes which list some personalities, MSgt. Mayo became the target of the follow-up sting.

Also at around 9 p.m. Saturday, PNP-DEG officers arrested top drug target Juden Francisco, tagged as 4th most wanted drug personality in Northern Mindanao on the strength of a warrant for sale of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Francisco,33, a native of Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental was arrested inside Unit 323, Building C of Sorrento Oasis located along Sorrento Oasis Road in Bgy. Rosario, Pasig City.

Seven other persons who were found inside the raided condo unit were also arrested and are now facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1829 which penalizes the obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.

They were identified as Lyndon Dionson40; Kenneth Dionson,40; Dindo Cochoco,28; Ritzel Carballo,39; Bernardo Corrido,56; Rodolfo Detalla,54; and Virgilio Bacus,37.

The two Dionsons, Carballo, Corridor , Cochoco and Bacus are all townmates of Francisco while Detalla is from Zamboanga del Sur.

Brig. Gen. Domingo said that Francisco is an ‘HVT’ previously arrested in Cebu but managed to post bail and since then remained at-large. He said that the seven persons arrested with the suspect were found to be either under probation for drugs or have pending RA 9165 cases but were acting as ‘bodyguards’ of Francisco.

“Ang galing mo, it’s a very good intelligence work and most importantly, it’s a teamwork of everyone,” said Sec. Abalos as he commended Domingo and his men and the rest of the Team PNP for a job well done.

Abalos lauded the latest major anti-drug accomplishment of the PNP under Gen. Azurin as he maintained that the Marcos administration is pressing its war on drugs with cops under strict guidance to ensure that the rule of law will be followed.

Azurin commended the ‘intelligence-driven’ anti-narcotics operation launched by the PNP-DEG with the support of other police units, the PDEA and the BoC which led in the biggest drug haul made so far by the police force under the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.

“Wala akong pakialam kung sino masasagasaan dito, kung hanggang saan aabot ang investigation dito. Pero ang malinaw dito, nahuhuli natin ng buhay ang mga miyembro ng malalaking sindikato, hindi sila napapatay,” he told the Journal Group.

The top cop told Abalos that the suspects have been under surveillance since last month. “This is part of our ongoing massive internal cleansing,” he said in the aftermath of the arrest of the policeman in Manila.

Azurin said that the PNP-DEG is investigating reports that the suspects could be remnants of the notorious Parojinog Gang, with some of their leaders already subjected to asset forfeiture proceedings by the Anti-Money Laundering Council following recommendation from the PNP-DEG.

The cop’s arrest was triggered by the recovery of several documents inside the office of Wealth & Personal Development (WPD) Lending Inc. located at no. 1742 Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Sta. Cruz, Manila which, according to Domingo showed the policeman’s involvement in big-time illegal drug trafficking activities.

The PNP-DEG SOU4-A led the series of anti-narcotics operations with the support of the PNP-DEG Intelligence and Foreign Liaison Division and SOU NCR as well as the NCR Police Office under Brig. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva, the Police Regional Office 4-A Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and Regional Special Operations Unit headed by Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. and the Manila Police District DEU under Brig. Gen. Andre P. Dizon. With Jonjon Reyes