3rd most wanted drug trafficker in Taguig nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - The third most wanted drug trafficker in Taguig City fell to the hands of police in an entrapment operation in Barangay Central Signal on Thursday night.

Taguig police identified the arrested suspect as Alfonso Dacquel, alias “Otoy," 31. Also arrested was Dacquel’s wife Siena Joyce, alias “Shen,” 31. Both are residents of Barangay Central Signal Village, Taguig.

Dacquel was arrested shortly after handing over a plastic sachet of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu, worth at least P2,000 to an undercover police officer who posed as buyer during the sting that happened at about 8:30 p.m. Seized from Dacquel were five other plastic sachets containing suspected shabu.

Seized from Shen meanwhile were the two marked P1,000 bills used in the sting. Police said the seized shabu in the six plastic sachets has a combined street value of P150,000.

Dacquel and his wife are now detained at the Taguig City Police headquarters as complaints for drug possession and trafficking are now being readied against them.

Last August 25, Taguig City Police arrested Michael Benito Tan, the alleged top illegal drug peddler in the city.

Police said Tan was arrested in a buy-bust operation set up by anti-drug operatives of the Taguig City police along MLQ Street in Barangay Bagumbayan.

Tan is listed as No. 1 in the Top 10 drug hotlist of Taguig. Taguig police earlier arrested alleged top drug peddlers in the city including Richard Silvestre, fourth in the police list; Isidro Llagas, seventh; Mardie Talampas, eighth; Jackie Abone, second, and Rawie Castro, fifth.

Police seized from Tan some 140 grams of shabu crystals contained in nine plastic sachets, a 9mm Taurus pistol, two 9 mm magazine clips and the P5,000 marked buy-bust money.

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano meanwhile commended the Taguig police for doing a very good job in winning the war against drugs.

"We are confident that with the fall of the most wanted drug personality in Taguig, the rest will follow. This is a big accomplishment for our police force as the biggest player in the drug market has been taken off the streets," she said.