4 nabbed in Cainta drug bust

Four suspected drug pushers, including a man who claimed to be a relative of Antipolo City Mayor Angelito Gatlabayan, were arrested by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents in a buy-bust last Monday in Cainta, Rizal.

About 500 grams of shabu valued at P1 million were seized from suspects Ruben Gatlabayan Olayvar, who claimed to be a cousin of Mayor Gatlabayan; Elizabeth Olayvar, 44, and Saidamen Sultan, 22, both vendors; and Esmael Ali, 28.

Inspector Darwin Butuyan, who led the operation, said the four suspects were collared at about 7 p.m. last Monday after allegedly selling shabu to a PDEA agent at the Green Park Executive Village in Cainta.

The suspects were immediately brought to the PDEA office at Camp Crame for investigation, while the seized shabu was submitted for chemical analysis to the PNP Crime Laboratory.

Undersecretary Anselmo Ave—nido Jr., PDEA director, said an informant tipped off the PDEA about the suspects’ alleged illegal activities through the agency’s "Operation Private Eye" program.

Charges are now being readied against the suspects.