2 arrested, Ecstacy pills seized

Police arrested two persons and seized 300 "Ecstacy" pills used by "rich and famous" drug addicts in "sex trips," over the weekend in a five-star hotel in Manila.

The suspects, Marcus Pangilinan, 30, of 308 Pasong Tamo St., Tandang Sora, Quezon City and Penelope Nicole Belone, 19, of Block 14 Lot 8, Thailand St., Veraville Classic, Las Piñas City, did not resist arrest when cornered at the Atrium Lounge of the Century Park Sheraton Hotel in Malate, Manila at about 6 p.m. Saturday.

Both Pangilinan and Belone admitted to Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante they were couriers of a syndicate peddling "Ecstacy". They promised to cooperate fully with the police.

Ecstacy, an "upper" is used by rich youngsters in "sex trips," police said. Pangilinan and Belone, a receptionist of the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel, had been under surveillance by men of Superintendent Federico Laciste, head of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) in various bars in Quezon City.

Laciste said he was tipped off by an informer that the two suspects were selling ecstacy to buyers at P1,000 to P1,500 per pill.

A RISOO operative approached the duo Friday night and negotiated for the sale of 300 Ecstacy pills. Both parties agreed to meet at the Atrium Lounge of the Century Park Sheraton Hotel Saturday afternoon.

A team headed by Superintendent Manuel Cesar Prieto and Chief Inspector Arnold Aguilar was posted not far away from the RISOO poseur-buyer. Pangilinan and Belone were arrested after they handed over the pills with a street value of P450,000. The two suspects also yielded a cellular phone and pointed to a certain Ari of Alabang, Muntinlupa City as their source of the illegal drugs.

The suspects claimed that the pills were hand-carried into the country from Singapore and Indonesia. The syndicate behind it is headed by Lawrence Wang, a police source said.

Galvante ordered the filing of appropriate charges against Pangilinan and Belone with the Manila prosecutor’s office today.

After the arrest of the suspects, PNP chief Director General Leandro Mendoza ordered yesterday a crackdown on hotels and business establishments in Metro Manila, where Ecstasy pills are sold to young professionals and students.

Galvante presented the two suspects to the media yesterday.

Mendoza tasked Galvante to monitor establishments on Jupiter Street in Makati City, Malibin in Pasay City, Malate in Manila and the Molave and Libis areas in Quezon City, and other hang-outs frequented by rich kids and professionals. — Christina Mendez