Drugbusters ‘revisit’ Pasig; 12 arrested

Anti-illegal drug officers swooped down on a neighborhood in Pasig City yesterday and arrested 12 suspects, including two alleged big-time dealers who yielded an undetermined amount of shabu and two handguns.

Agents of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) said the drug peddlers based in Barangay Pineda sold drugs to former regulars at the dismantled shabu "market" in Barangay Sto. Tomas as well as students from nearby exclusive schools.

AIDSOTF commander Director Marcelo Ele Jr. said the raid was conducted after a 10-day surveillance by his men, who had received information provided by a "walk-in" informant.

"We were told that a number of houses in the barangay were being used for drug sessions by students from exclusive schools as well as tricycle drivers in the area," Ele said.

The raiding team, composed of elements of AIDSOTF and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the Pasig police, were armed with four search warrants issued by Executive Judge Natividad Dizon of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Ele identified those arrested as Rodel Yabut, Antonio Intalan, Jose Roxas, Earl Aralar, Alvin Galoso, Ronnie Salandanan, Jojo de Leon, Ricky de Leon, Reuben Tirote, Jayjay Martinez, Anchor Laurel and Anito Tirote.

The AIDSOTF chief did not identify the two big-time dealers from among those arrested.

Ele said drug peddling is rampant in the area and his office has been receiving both written complaints and text messages about the illegal activities there.

Armed with the search warrants, the raiding team, headed by Superintendent Andy Suan, proceeded to MRR and Banaag streets in Barangay Pineda at about 1:30 p.m. yesterday.

"All of our targets were accounted for. We caught them by surprise," said Suan, adding they are still conducting an inventory of the seized shabu.

He said among the recovered items were a caliber .22 pistol and a .45 automatic pistol.

"Most of those who frequent the place are former customers of the drug market in Mapayapa," said Suan, adding that some clients come from as far as Makati City.

He said that shabu is openly sold in the neighborhood.

Dealers, he said, continue to operate despite efforts by some members of the community to report their activities to various law enforcement and government agencies.

"After our successful dismantling of the drug compound in Barangay Mapayapa, one concerned citizen decided to seek our help," Suan said. "We acted swiftly on the information."

Ele said the raid was part of an intensified campaign against illegal drugs, following a reort by the US government that the Philippines has become a drug trafficker’sand smuggler’s paradise.

"Our operation against illegal drugs is a continuing process," the AIDSOTF chief said, adding they have a long list of targets that would be acted upon in the coming days.

The 12 suspects were brought to the AIDSOTF headquarters at Camp Crame for tactical interrogation.

Ele ordered the filing of appropriate charges against them.