5 nabbed in Valenzuela drug den

MANILA, Philippines - Five men were arrested during a raid on a drug den in Barangay Punturin, Valenzuela City Thursday morning.

Among those arrested was Christopher Briones, who is in the city police anti-drug unit’s order of battle, Valenzuela police chief Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento said.

Alvin Elopre, Gary Gozon, Mark Deo Belleza, and Sharvin Balatico were also caught in the raid on the drug den, which had been under surveillance for several weeks, he added.

He said the drug den was in a house at the end of Kabesang Porong street and closed-circuit television cameras were installed in the area to alert Briones and his group to police raids and visitors.

Police officers recovered three sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and a .38 caliber revolver with 10 bullets.