Chinese businessman nabbed in P17-million shabu bust

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) arrested Saturday a Chinese businessman who yielded 3.6 kilos of shabu – worth P17.5 million on the street – during a drug bust in Quezon City.

Renato Go, alias Ato Go and Dr. Go, 49, became the 10th Chinese arrested for drug pushing since the NCRPO implemented case operation plan “Ice Meltdown” in January, said Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, deputy chief of the regional anti-illegal drugs special operations task force (RAIDSOTF).

Laurel said Go, whose drugstore and fluorescent lamp businesses are in Manila’s Chinatown district, admitted his crime.

NCRPO chief Director Nicanor Bartolome and Laurel presented Go yesterday before the media at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Bartolome said an informant arranged Saturday to buy five grams of shabu worth P20,000 from Go and they agreed to meet in front of the Genesis Christian School in Barangay Dona Imelda at about 5:30 p.m.

“He insisted that we buy from him 100 grams of shabu worth P500,000. So when we arrested him, we searched his vehicle and we recovered the 3.6 kilos of shabu inside a bag in the glove compartment of his vehicle,” said Superintendent Remus Medina, head of the regional police intelligence and operating unit (RPIOU).

Medina said they also seized Go’s cellular phone, P20,000 used in the drug bust, and a silver Isuzu Altera used by the suspect. Go said he gets his shabu from at least 10 Hong Kong nationals.

Bartolome ordered the filing of sale, trading, dispensation, and possession of illegal drugs charges against Go before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office. Go is being held in the RPIOU detention center at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa.