Actor nabbed in drug bust

MANILA, Philippines — Actor Dominic Roco and his four companions were arrested in a sting in Quezon City yesterday wherein police confiscated P126,000 worth of illegal drugs.

Roco, son of movie and television icon Bembol Roco, and the other suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Quezon City Police District in Barangay Holy Spirit at around 1:20 a.m., QCPD director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said.

Torre identified Roco’s companions as Reynaldo Sanchez, 45; Renz Anthony Cruz, 33; Eugene Marvin Tolentino, 27, and Dexie Diamante, 21.

The target of the drug sting was Sanchez, who has been under surveillance for two months after a confidential informant tipped off police about his involvement in the proliferation and distribution of illegal drugs in Quezon City, probers said.

The informant and an undercover police operative negotiated with Sanchez for an initial deal involving P500 worth of shabu.

Sanchez ran toward a house when he sensed it was a sting. It was there that police found Roco and three others in a drug session, police said.

Seized from the actor and the other suspects were 16.47 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P112,000 and 10 grams of marijuana with a street value of P14,000.

The suspects were brought to the QCPD Station 14, where they are being held on charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.