PDEA nabs family selling drugs in Pasay

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided a house in Pasay City yesterday and arrested three members of the same family for possessing at least 200 grams of shabu with a street value of P300,000.

PDEA agents and Pasay police arrested Jerry Punzalan, 52; his wife, Patria, 36; and cousin Venus Punzalan, 42, all of 704 Apelo Cruz Compound in Malibay.

Jerry’s mother, Araceli Razon-Punzalan, 75, was also invited for questioning after anti-narcotics agents found packets of shabu among the items she has for sale at her neighborhood store.

Four other members of the family – Arlene Punzalan-Razon, Felix Razon, Jaime Punzalan, and Alvin Punzalan – allegedly managed to elude arrest.

In a report, PDEA-Metro Manila Regional Office chief Carlos Gadapan said the suspects were able to escape through the roof.

The Punzalan house has reinforced steel gates that prevented members of the raiding team from entering the house fast enough to prevent anyone from leaving.

PDEA agents and Pasay policemen also confiscated a loaded .45 caliber pistol, P7,000, a digital weighing scale and a mobile phone.

The raid was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Manila Judge Eduardo Peralta Jr.

Gadapan said the seized illegal drugs have been turned over to the PDEA’s laboratory service for examination, adding that appropriate criminal charges will be filed against the suspects.