Drug war: No deaths, 41 arrested

MANILA, Philippines — There was no reported death, but at least 41 drug suspects were arrested as the government continued its campaign against illegal drugs in Luzon, Basilan and Zamboanga in the past two days.

Fifteen were collared in stings in San Rafael, Pulilan, Guiguinto, Balagtas, Bulakan and Plaridel, Bulacan.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., Bulacan police acting director, said 24 sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and marked money were recovered from the suspects.

Roel Acosta, 56, legislative assistant of the Sangguniang Bayan of Lupao, Nueva Ecija, was among those arrested in Central Luzon. Nine were nabbed in Guagua, Arayat, Macabebe, Angeles and Pandacaqui in Pampanga and  Gerona, San Jose and San Roque in Tarlac. The suspects yielded 21 sachets of shabu, police said.

Meat vendor Christopher Maquera was arrested while allegedly peddling shabu in Barangay Centro, Abulug, Cagayan.

At least 22 sachets of shabu were recovered from 12 drug suspects arrested in Zamboanga and Isabela, Basilan, Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Zamboanga peninsula police director, said.

Beltran said the number of arrests increases daily.

In Surigao, police dismantled a drug den in Purok 3, Barangay San Juan. Four alleged den operators, including a 16-year-old boy, were arrested.

The suspects face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. – Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Roel Pareño, Ben Serrano