Drug, contract killing ring chief falls

MANILA, Philippines — The alleged leader of a gun-for-hire and drug syndicate operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces was arrested during a drug sting in Caloocan City at past midnight yesterday.

Police also seized 350 grams of shabu, with a street value of P2.3 million, from Rolando Arnaiz, alias Lang-Lang, 42, and tourist guide David Montalbo, alias Dave, 48.

Arnaiz reportedly leads the Roban Valenzuela-Lang-Lang Arnaiz gang, which operates in Caloocan, Quezon City and Bulacan, according to Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director.

Arnaiz has a standing arrest warrant for murder issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 85, which denied bail.

“We are assuring the public that Team NCRPO would not rest until Metro Manila is cleared of illegal drugs,” Eleazar said as he appealed to the public to report the presence of drug pushers and users in their neighborhood.

A team led by Superintendent Rogath Campo, head of the NCRPO’s Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU), conducted a month-long surveillance on Arnaiz until they were able to arrange the purchase of 50 grams of shabu for P100,000, Eleazar said.

Arnaiz and Montalbo arrived in a black Mazda vehicle (ZHT-933) at the corner of Tullahan and Ignacia Road in Barangay Quiteria at around 12:15 a.m.

Campo said Arnaiz yielded two plastic bags of shabu and a ParaOrdnance .45 caliber pistol with three magazines and 15 bullets.

Montalbo yielded seven sachets of shabu and a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines.

The RSOU team also confiscated the suspects’ Mazda vehicle.

Eleazar ordered the filing of appropriate charges against Arnaiz and Montalbo, who are detained at the RSOU office in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Police also arrested five persons on drug charges in Pasig, four in Mandaluyong and one in Marikina. – With Rey Galupo