Traffic aide, 3 others nabbed in Sta. Cruz pot session

MANILA, Philippines – A volunteer traffic aide and his three male companions were allegedly caught sniffing shabu in a shanty in Sta. Cruz, Manila Monday afternoon.

Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent James Afalla identified the suspects as Ernesto Memoracion, 36, a volunteer traffic aide; Mark Bongalan, 38; Dennis Gamosa, 37; and Vicente Tuazon, 56. Recovered from them were three plastic sachets of shabu, two empty sachets with traces of shabu, three pieces of aluminum foil, two improvised tooters and a disposable lighter, Afalla added.

A resident called the police about an ongoing pot session in a shanty along Old Antipolo street at around 2:30 p.m.

 Afalla said Memoracion admitted enforcing traffic along the streets of Sta. Cruz every time he is high on drugs. “This is dangerous since instead of untangling traffic, this volunteer enforcer could even worsen the situation in the area since he is not in a proper state of mind. Besides there are reports that he also extorts from motorists,” Afalla said.

The city’s 11 police station commanders have strengthened their anti-illegal drugs units after Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim expressed disgust over their poor performance in apprehending drug offenders.