3 nabbed, P1.5-M shabu seized in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested three men who yielded a kilo of shabu worth P1.5 million in a drug sting in Barangay Teresita, Quezon Avenue early yesterday morning.

Nabbed were Jamel Ismael, Romnick Riga and Mujib Abdulhamid.

They were caught after they handed over 50 grams of shabu worth P75,000 to someone who posed as a buyer, QCPD director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio said.

Tinio said the drug sting was conducted by operatives of the Quezon City’s District Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (DAIDSOTG) headed by Chief Inspector Enrico Figueroa.

According to Figueroa, the suspects were the sources of illegal drugs in Quezon City, Manila and nearby provinces.

“They have contacts here in Quezon City and other cities in Metro Manila,” he said.

The three suspects were detained at the QCPD headquarters at Camp Karingal. Charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002 are being readied against them.

‘141 barangays drug-affected’

Tinio ordered anti-narcotics officers to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs as 141 out of 142 barangays in Quezon City are reportedly drug-affected.

Citing a report by former DAIDSOTG head Chief Inspector Roberto Razon, Tinio said 134 barangays are slightly affected while seven are most affected by illegal drugs.

Barangay New Era is the only drug-free community, Tinio said.

He ordered the local police to eradicate drugs in the seven most affected barangays.

“We will launch an aggressive, sustained anti-drug campaign in these areas,” Tinio said.

Tinio, however, said they would verify the report since he was installed as QCPD chief on only July 30.

He instructed the police officers to coordinate their anti-drug operations with barangay officials.