3 Boratong drug gang members fall

MANILA, Philippines — Three alleged members of a drug syndicate headed by detained Pasig City shabu “tiangge” operator Amin Imam Boratong were arrested in a sting in Mandaluyong City on Monday.

Anti-narcotics operatives confiscated a kilo of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu from Raihana Pontino, 37; Aliola Sultan, 24, and Jassir Pangaga, 23, all natives of Marawi City, when they were cornered along Shaw Boulevard at around 11:25 p.m., said Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director.

Boratong and his second wife, Sheryl Molera, were meted life sentences for operating the shabu flea market in 2006. He is among the high-profile inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Officers of the NCRPO’s drug enforcement unit and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency also seized P800,000 marked money and a Toyota Revo (XGP-331) believed to be used to deliver illegal drugs from the suspects.

Pontino and Sultan were arrested for illegal possession of drugs and firearms last year but posted bail, Eleazar said.

The NCRPO chief alleged that Boratong continues to run the drug syndicate from the NBP.

“They claimed that the shabu shipment was being handed to them for delivery. But we will pursue our investigation until we get their source of illegal drugs,” Eleazar said.

Eleven more drug suspects were arrested in Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas while 13 others were arrested in Quezon City.