‘Escort’ linked to escaped Korean drug suspect

MANILA, Philippines -  A woman who was arrested along with former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Dorian Peña is linked to a Korean-American wanted for drug pushing, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday.

Ledy Mea Vilchez, arrested along with Peña and her partner Jose Paolo Ampeso, was said to be Jun No’s last known companion following his escape from East Avenue Medical Center on April 15 after undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis, the NBI said.

The NBI also found in its initial investigation that Vilchez is reportedly “an escort girl who delivers drugs to Korean clients.” The drugs were allegedly supplied by No. 

Ampeso is a son of former consul general to Vancouver, Canada Jose Arthur Ampeso.

The NBI said celebrities are reportedly among the group’s clients.

Agents from the NBI’s anti-drug task force arrested Peña, Vilchez and Ampeso during a sting targeting “Mae,” who turned out to be Vilchez, at a house in Merryland Village in Mandaluyong last Wednesday.

Agents seized from the three suspects two sachets said to contain shabu, drug paraphernalia and a weighing scale.

The three were charged with violating provisions of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Department of Justice last Thursday.

Peña earlier denied that he was using drugs, saying he was visiting Ampeso to have his computer fixed. 

No, who remains at large, was arrested in a sting in Pasay City and 140 tablets of the party drug ecstasy was confiscated from him.

He reportedly supplied drugs in Malate, Manila and may be involved in sex tourism, officials said.