6 women caught with P2.5-M shabu

MANILA, Philippines — Six women believed to be members of a drug ring were arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for alleged possession of P2.5 million worth of shabu in Pasay City on Saturday.

They were Casana Metalicof, 36, alleged leader of the group; Leah Abdul Wahab, 22; Armila Casar, 28; Aslema Ampatua, 18; Norlin Dimatingcal, 18, and Fatima Adbullah, 18.

Levi Ortiz, who heads the PDEA Special Enforcement Service, said around 500 grams of shabu were confiscated during the sting at the parking lot of a commercial establishment at the corner of Cuneta Avenue and Roxas Boulevard at around 3:45 p.m.

Ortiz said the suspects belong to a drug ring allegedly distributing shabu in Western Visayas, Caraga region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“This is an organized group and we believe their source of illegal drugs is in Metro Manila,” he said in an interview.

The suspects have been under surveillance for a  month prior to their arrest, Ortiz said.

Three of the women arrived at the site from Dasmariñas City in Cavite and met the PDEA agents who posed as buyers.

After a few hours, Metalicof and two others delivered the drugs placed in a brown paper bag in exchange for P1.2 million.

Metalicof said they did not know the bag contained shabu.

In Manila, 138 people, including 57 drug suspects, were apprehended in simultaneous anti-crime operations over the weekend.

Superintendent Erwin Margarejo, spokesman for the Manila Police District, said 136 sachets of shabu, dried marijuana leaves and drug paraphernalia were confiscated during the operations.

Police said they also recovered a .45-caliber handgun, a .38-caliber revolver, an improvised shotgun and ammunition.

Margarejo said the suspects were involved in drugs, illegal gambling, carjacking and violation of city ordinances.

Five other drug suspects were nabbed by anti-narcotics agents in Pasig and Marikina.

They were Eduardo Jabson Jr., Alejandro Canlas Jr., Richard Pisquera, Janor Martinez and Joel Escalante.

The suspects are being held by police on drug charges. – Rey Galupo, Non Alquitran