5 drug ring members nabbed in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Anti-narcotics agents arrested five members of a notorious drug ring in a series of raids in Manila after a seven-month operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said on Thursday.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the suspects were arrested during a raids in Sta. Cruz, Manila where the members of the Zulueta drug group were operating.

Cacdac said the string of arrests started when PDEA agents captured Elizabeth Estimada, 39; and Jaime Jimenea, 51, during the implementation of a search warrant last May 25 at No. 1821 Int. 36, Tambunting Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Confiscated during the search were 17 plastic sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, weighing roughly 14 grams; assorted drug paraphernalia; and cash.

On July 13, another member of the drug group, Ronaldo Ledesma, 30, a house painter, was nabbed during a search in his residence also in Tambunting Street. He yielded one sachet of shabu and pieces of ammunition.

Armed with search warrants, authorities raided the same area on Dec.19 and arrested Eduardo Obille,37; and Rolando Zulueta, 30.

They were caught red-handed in possession of 37 sachets of shabu weighing approximately 11 grams and various drug paraphernalia.

The other suspect, Procolo Bordas, was not present during the search. He remains at large.

“Obille was the prime target since day one of the operation. He had eluded arrest during the two previous operations. The long arm of the law finally caught up with him the third time,” Cacdac said. - Dennis Carcamo