16 nabbed in Pasig shabu ‘tiangge’ raid

MANILA, Philippines - At least 200 heavily armed policemen arrested 16 persons during a raid Friday night on six houses in Pasig City that were reportedly part of a shabu “tiangge” or flea market.

Those arrested were Rodolfo de Vera, 44; Edwin Jaravata, 24; Cristina Quijano, 24; Salic Pontino, 23; Rowena de Vera, 42; Danny Sulat, 43; Omar Sambolayan, 38; Saadoding Soong, 42; Arnel Agub, 24; Israel Pobocan, 42; Julius Gianan, 32; Larry Tumalin, 45; Juanito de Vera, 48; Eric Principe, 42; Imelda Tumalin, 52, and a minor.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the flea market, located in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, had been run by former henchmen of convicted shabu flea market operator Amin Imam Boratong.

“We received reports that former employees of Boratong in his shabu flea market at the Mapayapa Compound in Barangay Sto. Tomas, which was busted by government agents in 2006, are behind the operation of the mini-shabu ‘tiangge’ in nearby Barangay Pinagbuhatan,” an official told The STAR.

Boratong and his second wife, Sheryl Molera, were sentenced to life imprisonment for their role in the operation of the shabu flea market.

Police officers said they have in custody an informant who alleged that Boratong’s employees, including a nephew identified only as Macmac, are still actively involved in the illegal drug trade in the city.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) secured warrants from Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 152 Judge Danilo Cruz to search six houses the informant claimed the drug sessions were being held and where assorted firearms were kept.

The 200 policemen from the CIDG, Special Action Force (SAF), Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), Logistics Support Service (LSS) and Health Service gathered in front of the Philippine National Police grandstand at Camp Crame for a final briefing before proceeding to the houses in Villa Monique Phase 1.

“A team from the CIDG and the SAF were assigned to each target. The other police officers were used to intercept those who tried to escape during the raid,” a police official said.

Pasig City police chief Senior Superintendent Jun Hidalgo, Senior Superintendent Danilo Macerin of the CIDG’s National Capital Region office and Superintendent Nereo Torrecampo of the CIDG’s Anti-Organized Crime Unit led the raid.

The informant, wearing a mask, led the policemen to the six houses, where they confiscated two .45 caliber pistols, a homemade .22 caliber pistol, at least 200 grams of shabu, P150,000 cash and a stolen motorcycle.

The raid was witness by barangay chairman Rodrigo Asilo, other barangay officials and members of media. CIDG chief Director Benjie Magalong and AKG head Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo supervised the raid.

According to Hidalgo, Rodolfo de Vera and Sulat are members of a robbery group operating in Pasig City.

A police official said six of those arrested were caught sniffing shabu while the others owned the houses where the drugs and guns were seized.

The minor was turned over to the custody of the local social welfare office while the 15 others were brought to the CIDG headquarters at Camp Crame for interrogation.