Police raid ‘criminal haven’ in Mandaluyong

Some 210 police and civilian volunteers swooped down on a crime-infested barangay in Mandaluyong City on Saturday and arrested seven people in the act of repacking, possessing and using illegal drugs.

The raid at the squatters area in Bgy. Addition Hills serves as a "wake up" call for local residents that the police would not allow criminal elements from making the area as their hiding place, said Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief.

"The word spreading around the city is that this barangay is a haven of criminals," said Velasquez in an interview.

"We cannot allow that to happen so we gathered our resources for the residents to see and confirm that we cared for their future and safety."

For the past five years, not a single police team tried to conduct a raid in the said barangay because of the reported presence of armed men, who threatened residents against reporting them to police authorities.

But at around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, combined elements of the police, Mayor’s Action Command (MAC), Anti-Vice Unit and civilian volunteers positioned themselves at all exit and entry points of the barangay to "saturate" the area of criminals.

Velasquez said his team had the "green light" from Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, City Administrator Vic Victoria and Barangay chairman Vic de la Cruz.

Velasquez’ team arrested Jannete Morqueda while in the act of repacking shabu and Rosario Duran for possession of two sachets of the illegal drugs. Five others — Roilo Pida, Duran Ramos, Bernie Lerdan, Joseph Majestrada and Marjones Arcenag — were caught sniffing shabu.

Though they failed to collar a single wanted person, Velasquez said the raid was a big success because they were able to prove to local residents that their place is not "untouchable," contrary to the boast of criminals.

To erase the tag "criminal haven," Velasquez sat down with De la Cruz and other barangay officials to solicit their help in the fight against the worsening problem on criminality and illegal drugs.

The local residents promised they would help in preventing criminals from taking refuge in their neighborhood.

"Natuwa ang mga residente dahil ngayon lang napasok ng pulis ang kanilang lugar. Gusto nilang maging tahimik na ang barangay nila at susuporta sila sa pulisya sa pakikibaka sa kriminalidad at droga (The residents were happy with this development as it is only now that we have penetrated their area.They want their community to be peaceful so they gave their support to the police force in fighting crime and illegal drugs)," said Velasquez.

He also encouraged residents to report the presence of armed men in their neighborhood.