Text helps nab drug suspects in Muntinlupa

A suspected drug pusher and two users have been arrested by the Muntinlupa police as a result of the text messages sent by concerned citizens.

Members of the Station Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (SAID-SOTF) arrested Harry Cris Main, alias Barok, 30, a resident of Purok 4, Philippine Railway Site, Alabang, after concerned residents made use of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Office (DAPCO) text hotline.

Main’s companions Joseph Espeleta, alias Erap, 32, married, plumber, of Purok 4, PNR Site; and Armando Ulat, alias Pogi, 30, also of Purok 4, PNR Site, were caught sniffing shabu when sting operations were being conducted at Main’s house.

DAPCO chief Chito Valerio said that before the police swooped down on the house, an asset was first sent to verify the information. Police then conducted a buy-bust that led to the arrest of the three suspects.

Seized from Main was a caliber .38 revolver, one sachet of shabu and an undetermined amount of cash.

Espeleta and Ulat yielded lighters and a tooter.

The suspects are now detained at a city police station.

Valerio said DAPCO’s text hotline has been a big boost to the city’s campaign against illegal drug activities.

Meanwhile, a suspected pusher and two users were also apprehended in a buy-bust operation in Taguig City.

Suspect Louielyn Pangilinan, alias Louie Balatuba, 42, a resident of Western Bicutan, was nabbed by elements of the Taguig Anti-Crime and Illegal Drugs Task Force (TACID-TF).

Pangilinan had been the subject of complaints from residents in Barangay Western Bicutan.

After a weeklong surveillance, a buy-bust operation was conducted against Pangilinan last Monday night. Police Officer 2 Emmanuel Maglana acted as a buyer and after purchasing P200 worth of shabu, police pounced on the suspect at his house.

Also arrested in the operation were Joey Romblon, 42, of Duhat street, Western Bicutan and Jim Morante, 43, of Cabuyao, Laguna who were caught in actual possession of shabu.

In line with Mayor Freddie Tinga’s all-out war on illegal drugs, Councilor Henry Dueñas Jr., chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on peace and order, and Senior Inspector Eufronio Obong Jr., TACID-TF chief, have been coordinating with barangay officials and concerned citizens to identify drug pushers in the city. – Rhodina Villanueva