P130k shabu seized in Army compound

MANILA, Philippines — More than P130,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu have been confiscated from the Philippine Army’s headquarters in Taguig, according to a report released by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday.

Arnold Penkian, a 45-year-old tailor living at the Army camp, was arrested in a sting at the Artillery Training Unit (ATU) office on Nov. 25, NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Jenny Tecson said.

The sting was staged after an informant from the Army reported Penkian’s alleged drug deals.

A team of operatives from the city police, the Southern Police District’s drug enforcement and intelligence units and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted surveillance to confirm the report.

Penkian’s house was allegedly used as a venue for drug sessions and for other pushers and users to conduct transactions, police said.

Operatives confiscated around 19.3 grams of shabu in 13 sachets with a street value of around P131,240, pieces of aluminum foil, an improvised tooter, an improvised water pipe, empty sachets and marked money were also seized from Penkian, who is facing charges of violating Sections 5, 11 and 12 – which deal with the sale and possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia ­– of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Meanwhile, the Marikina police arrested Gina Arellano, 31, and Jennelyn Hernandez, 32, in a sting in Barangay Geronimo in Montalban, Rizal on Friday.

Around 45 grams of shabu were confiscated from the two women, who face charges of drug trafficking. – Emmanuel Tupas