Bacolod PNP has list of 'Ecstasy' users

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  —The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has obtained a list of customers of a suspected drug pusher who was earlier arrested for selling Ecstasy pills.

The list may aid the police in their follow-up or future operations against illegal drugs, city police director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said.

De la Paz disclosed they were able to seize 716 high-grade tablets of Ecstacy pills with an estimated worth of P1,075,000 from Angelo Bongco, 40, during a buy-bust operation on June 18, 2011 at the Palmas Del Mar Village and Beach Club in Barangay Singcang-Airport in this city.

Police have filed charges for sale and possession of illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearm against Bongco, who is presently detained at the BCPO headquarters.

De la Paz said based on their investigation, the original plan of Bongco was to order 2,500 tablets of Ecstacy pills from the US.

He added they have monitored that about 750 tablets had arrived from two shipments through cargo forwarders.

At present, De la Paz said they investigating how the illegal substance was shipped into the country from the US when dangerous drugs are being strictly monitored.

Police believed the huge volume of drugs ordered by Bongco was intended not only for Bacolod but for neighboring areas as well, like Cebu and Boracay, which are prime tourist destinations.

“With his neutralization we believe we were able to cripple their drug operations in Bacolod, especially the use of Ecstacy,” de la Paz said.

Bongco, meanwhile, claimed this is the first time he engaged in the illegal activity.

But de la Paz said according to reports they have gathered, the suspect has been involved in the illegal trade for about a year now. (FREEMAN)