Shooting victim arrested for drugs in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines — A man who was shot in the buttocks by a still unidentified attacker was arrested after police found shabu in his possession in Navotas on Sunday.

Manuel Garcia Jr., 38, was wounded after an assailant shot him while he was walking along Northbay Boulevard North before dawn Sunday.

As the maritime police responded to the incident, they frisked Garcia and recovered 10 sachets of suspected shabu inside the victim’s wallet, according to Navotas police chief investigator Senior Inspector Aldrin Thompson.

While police officers are searching for Garcia’s attacker, Garcia will face drug charges.

Thirty-one other people were arrested for illegal drugs in other parts of Metro Manila, 25 of them in Quezon City, since Sunday.

In Barangay Payatas, Ringo Pantinople, 45; Jemeleen Ocfemia, 41, and Thomas Jefferson Zilmar, 29, were arrested with seven sachets said to contain shabu during a sting. 

A few hours later, their relatives, identified as Marcelina Ocfemia and Shenny Zilmar, 24, were arrested after they tried to bribe police officers with P20,000 to release the suspects.

Luis Hizon, 26; Rowel Vergara, 23; Alvin Rejas, 28; Jocel Rabaos and Vanessa Camba were arrested in another sting in the same barangay. Fifteen sachets said to contain shabu were seized from the suspects.

In Barangay Apolonio Samson, Edwin Mendoza, 45; Alvin Songcuian, 33; Arnel Tenorio, 46; Michael Barcelona, 39, and Reden Almacin, 22, were initially arrested for playing an illegal gambling game but yielded a sachet of shabu.

Randy Gamalo, 42; Danny Enano, 46; Angelito Apacible, 53; Dennis Ragasa, 34; Dante Inciso, 46, and Catherine Villanueva were caught in a drug bust at Bernardo Park in Barangay Kamuning. They yielded 19 sachets of shabu, a cell phone and marked money.

Police said Gamalo was on probation after his arrest on drug charges in February last year.

Julius Parina, 21, and Joven Fernandez, 20, were arrested in a sting with four sachets of shabu and marked money in Barangay Botocan.

Marvin Crispitado, 29, was arrested with three sachets of shabu at a waiting shed along Calle Industria in Barangay Bagumbayan.

In Valenzuela City, Donald Mercado, Joselito Cagindagan and Pepito Pacaol were caught in a sting in Barangay Marulas.

Albert Manalansan, Vinderlito Nuqui and Neil Gaton were arrested in a separate sting with five sachets of shabu in Barangay Karuhatan.

Mercado and Manalansan are on the police drug watchlist. – Romina Cabrera