40 kilos of shabu in ‘bayong’ seized in Quezon City raid

MANILA, Philippines - At least 40 kilos of shabu, packed in two bayong or native woven bags, were seized from four men during a drug bust in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Mark Hue, 39; Honorato Pontigon, 39; Crisologo Puzon, 40; and James Rosales, 26, were arrested in connection with the biggest drug haul by the Quezon City Police District, QCPD director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said.

The shabu, packed in smaller plastic bags, was kept inside bayong bags in a Mitsubishi Lancer parked in front of a coffee shop along Banawe Road.

“The transaction involves the swapping of cars, one of them already carrying the huge drug contraband,” Albano said in an interview.

“Who would have thought huge amounts of shabu were placed inside bayong bags?” he added.

QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao believes the confiscated drugs are of high quality since they were still in crystal form. With a street price of at least P5 million per kilo, Pagdilao said the contraband amounted to around P250 million.

The arrest of the four suspects was led by Senior Inspector Roberto Razon, who said it started with a drug bust at around 4 a.m. at the corner of Banawe Road and N. S. Amoranto street. Sy and Puzon were arrested over a half-kilo of shabu wrapped like a Christmas gift.

Pagdilao said Sy and Puzon admitted there would be another transaction at a nearby coffee shop at corner of Banawe Road and Makaturing Street. In their Honda sedan, the two suspects led the police into the planned transaction outside the coffee shop.

Albano said it was then they arrested Rosales and Pontigon and seized the shabu in the Mitsubishi Lancer, with plate number UTE-886. Land Transportation Office records show the Lancer is registered under the name of Esperanza Banabatac of Pamplona, Las Piñas.