Firefighter nabbed for P23.46 million shabu

MANILA, Philippines — A volunteer firefighter was arrested in Parañaque yesterday for allegedly carrying 3.45 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with a street value of P23.46 million.

Jonnie Romo, 41, was collared by anti-narcotics operatives in a sting in Barangay San Dionisio at around 2:50 a.m., according to Southern Police District director Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft.

Romo accepted P140,000 in marked money from an undercover police officer in return for an unspecified amount of shabu, Kraft said.

The illegal drugs were packed in eight plastic sachets and two plastic tea bags labeled Guar Yun Wang.

The suspect is being held on charges of drug trafficking.

In Quezon City, three boys ages 14 to 15 were reportedly carrying four grams of shabu valued at P27,200 when they were caught on a footbridge in Barangay Unang Sigaw at around 4:10 a.m.

Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Quezon City Police District director, said the minors were brought to the QCPD Station 3 for investigation.

In Caloocan, Edgardo Agustin Vargas, 42, and motorcycle rider Lenard Cruz Buenaventura, 20, were caught with P25.8 million worth of shabu during a drug sting yesterday morning.

Police confiscated 11 packs of shabu, two of them packaged as Chinese tea bags labeled Quin Shan, a loaded .32-caliber pistol, a cell phone and Buenaventura’s motorcycle.

The two men face charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — Ghio Ong