Drug war: 18 held in Manila, Marikina

MANILA, Philippines — At least 18 persons believed to be involved in illegal drugs were apprehended in separate stings in Manila and Marikina in the past two days.

Ten of the suspects were nabbed in Manila.

Members of the Padre Algue police community precinct arrested Diolito Barayong, 22, along Jose Abad Santos in Barangay 240 on Saturday.

When frisked, Barayong allegedly yielded a loaded caliber .38 handgun and three sachets of shabu.

 Operatives of the Manila Police District Station 5 raided a house at the Parola Compound in Tondo where they seized 27 sachets of shabu from suspected pushers Pedro Pazon, 42, and Glen Agnes, 27.

Seven other drug suspects were collared in anti-narcotics operations in Ermita, Divisoria, Sampaloc, Sta. Ana, Sta. Mesa and Moriones, according to police.

In Marikina City, eight suspected drug dealers were arrested by police in separate stings.

They were Jesus Cristobal, 33; Zosimo Velasco, 25; Ricardo Cleofas, 33; Renier Santos, 20; Marlon Taggueg, 33; Noli Belo, 50; Raffy Manaois, 48, and Robert Fourtin Herminigildo, 41.

Inspector Greco Gonzales, chief of the Marikina police drug enforcement unit, said they conducted the operations after receiving information that the suspects were allegedly pushing drugs.

Gonzales said after several days of surveillance, a police officer who posed as a buyer arranged the purchase of shabu from Cristobal in Barangay Concepcion Uno, which led to his arrest.

Police said they recovered from Cristobal at least 14 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P95,000, a motorcycle, two cell phones, a pouch containing different IDs, drug paraphernalia and P14,080 in cash.

Velasco, Cleofas and Santos were arrested during a drug sting in Barangay Malanday.

Police said they confiscated nine sachets of shabu, a cell phone and P500 in marked money from the suspects.

Taggueg, who was nabbed along FEU street, also in Barangay Malanday, allegedly yielded five sachets of shabu.

Belo, Manaois and Herminigildo were collared for alleged possession of shabu along Ampalaya street in Barangay Tumana.

The suspects are being held by police on charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. – Non Alquitran