2 fake PDEA agents arrested in Pasig

Two suspected drug pushers posing as agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Pasig City recently.

In a statement released yesterday, the PDEA identified the suspects as Bidin Jalaide, 46; and Jomar Jaal, 34.

They were arrested at past 10 p.m. Thursday at the parking lot of a mall in Barangay Ugong, according to Senior Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, director of PDEA’s Metro Manila office.

The two men were caught after they sold 40 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P460,000 to an undercover PDEA agent, he said.

PDEA agents recovered two fake PDEA identification cards from the suspects, along with a .45 Colt pistol and two magazines.

The PDEA said Jalaide and Jaal were charged with usurpation of authority and falsification of documents, aside from facing drug charges.

PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago, according to the statement, lauded the efforts of the PDEA-Metro Manila office to “sustain the momentum of counter-drug operations in the Metro Manila area, which represents 55 percent of the national drug problem.” – Reinir Padua