‘Barangay chairman’ held over P3.4 million shabu

MANILA, Philippines — Anti-narcotics agents seized 500 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P3.4 million from a man reported to be Marawi City barangay chairman during a sting in Quezon City yesterday.

Mansawi Lala was arrested by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives in the sting at the corner of EDSA and North Avenue in Barangay Pag-asa shortly before 6 p.m.

Lala, who carried an identification card purportedly issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, is being held on charges of drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, one of the most wanted drug suspects in Quezon City was arrested in Barangay Bagumbayan at around 10:10 p.m.on Friday.

Rogelio Castillo, 42, is allegedly the top drug pushing suspect of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 12.

Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, QCPD director, said police initially accosted Castillo while he was asking people to place bets on an illegal numbers game.

When frisked, two sachets of undetermined quantities of shabu were seized from him.