Manila cops nab 4 drug dealers this month

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Police District arrested four convicted drug dealers in August alone, records obtained by The STAR from the MPD’s warrant section show.

“These drug felons had jumped bail and were tried in absentia. Though they were aware of their conviction, they continue with their drug dealing activities and manage to elude arrest for sometime,” said warrant section head Chief Inspector Mario Magno.

On top of the list was Jeffri Aquino, who was arrested on Aug. 16 in Sampaloc by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 31 Judge Germano Francisco Legaspi. He was convicted for drug pushing.

Next was Natly Valencia, arrested on Aug. 6 along Singalong on the strength of a warrant issued by RTC Branch 23 Judge Carolina Rivera-Colasito.

The two others are Felixberto Benedicto, arrested on Aug. 16 in Sampaloc under a warrant issued by RTC Branch 2 Judge Alejandro Bijasa, and Rolando Belenia, arrested on Aug. 6 by virtue of a warrant issued by RTC Branch 35 Judge Bernardita Santos.

Aside from the four, four other convicted drug pushers were arrested from March to June this year – Virginia Samson, Rolando Ravena, Ediser Amorin and Ricky Mariya.

Magno said his unit has doubled its efforts in serving the warrants for convicted drug suspects following the directive of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and MPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay to clean the city of the illegal drug menace.

“We have reports that convicted drug suspects still continue with their illegal drug activities and managed to pay off for their liberty,” Magno said.

The arrested drug convicts were turned over to their respective courts for confinement at the national penitentiary.