6 pushers nabbed in Mandaluyong

Six suspected drug pushers were arrested yesterday by the Mandaluyong City police in its anti-drug campaign to clear 13 of its barangays of the drug menace.

This brought to 21 the number of drug pushers and users arrested and 75 grams of shabu recovered by the men of Superintendent Jose Gentiles, Mandaluyong police chief, since they started last week.

Mayor Benhur Abalos was elated over the positive results of the campaign. He promised free legal assistance to policemen being harassed by those affected by the anti-drug drive.

First to be arrested was Manuel Ramos, alias Maning, 46, of 523 Vasquez st., Barangay Harapin ang Bukas. He was collared after handing over a gram of shabu to a police team headed by SPO4 Edmund Espiritu of the police drug enforcement unit.

The policemen also arrested four persons in the act of sniffing shabu inside Ramos’ house. They were Joyce dela Cruz, 23, Jennifer Liamson, 22, Estrelita Garcia, 27, and Ronel Sabigao, 27. Seized from them were assorted drug paraphernalia.

Hours later, the same team arrested Ricardo Lopuz, 27, of 521 Fabella st., Barangay Addition Hills, also during a buy-bust operation. He yielded a sachet containing three grams of shabu.

Gentiles said he expects more arrests as two teams from the Metro Manila Drug Enforcement Group and another one from the Eastern Police District have joined them in their clearing operations.

The police chief said they finished validating and updating their drug watchlist last year in coordination with barangay officials.

"We are focusing our efforts in three barangays before setting our eyes in other areas. We hope to finish this job in one month," he said.– Non Alquitran