Couple busted for peddling drugs

A husband and wife tandem of alleged drug pushers, and their lady accomplice, were nabbed in a buy-bust operation by anti-narcotics operatives of the Western Police District (WPD) Monday night in Tondo, Manila.

WPD’s District Drug Enforcement Group (DDEG) commander Chief Inspector Jose Mario Espino, identified the suspects as Fernando de la Cruz, 38, and his wife Connie, 40, of 845 Tambunting st., Tondo, and Tess Lopez, 25, of 909-F San Gabriel st., Tondo.

Recovered from the suspects were an undetermined quantity of shabu packed in three small plastic sachets and P2,000 in marked money.

Espino said Fernando’s arrest was the second time in a week. According to Espino, Fernando was arrested by the WPD’s District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU) sometime last week inside the North Cemetery while in possession of an unlicensed gun and shabu. Fernando, however, was able to post bail and continue with his illegal drug trade.

Following a tip, PO3 Mike Gomez, acting as poseur-buyer, managed to buy shabu worth P2,000 from the De la Cruz couple inside their residence at about 11 p.m. Monday.

Upon receipt of the marked money, DDEG operatives pounced on the couple, while Lopez was apprehended while trying to flee from the house. Lopez later admitted acting as runner for the couple.

Meanwhile, a notorious conman posing as a solicitor for a non-existent organization was finally arrested yesterday when a concerned neighbor contacted his latest victim through a calling card thrown away by the suspect.

Reynaldo Cortez, operations manager of Asia Elevator and Electronics Corp., sought the assistance of WPD-Homicide investigators SPO2 Alfredo Salazar and SPO1 Virgo Villareal after he was tipped off of the whereabouts of suspect Roberto Camillo.

Cortez said he was approached at his office by Camillo who tried to solicit contributions for an alleged non-government organization.

Cortez said that when he turned his back, Camillo managed to steal his clutch bag containing P8,500, a heavy duty lock and important documents.

Camillo was arrested after a brief chase by arresting officers along Radium street in San Andres Bukid. – Nestor Etolle