MANILA -- Authorities seized shabu worth PHP1.12 million and arrested four suspects in a buy-bust operation in Taguig City on Friday.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director, Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said suspects Joseph Marcelo, 41; Ronald Kerwin Bustos, 32; Anthony Cruz, 41; and Robert Saligan, 40 were arrested at C6 Road in Barangay Napindan at around 12:30 a.m.
The operation stemmed from information given by a civilian informant, which was followed by surveillance on the suspects.
The suspects yielded a total of 165 grams of suspected shabu with a street value of PHP1.12 million, two hand guns loaded with ammunition, one hand grenade and two weighing scales.
Investigation revealed that the arrested suspects are allegedly members of a criminal gang engaged in the illegal drug trade listed in the Southern Police District (SPD) illegal drug watch list, and operating in southern Metro Manila.
The Metro Manila top cop said they have been previously arrested and charged before the courts of Makati and Taguig City for the past two years for the same offense, but their cases were repeatedly dismissed.
Eleazar said he will order an investigation on why their previous cases were dismissed.
"Drug trafficking cases are non-bailable. There is no reason why these suspects should be able to continue their activities in the community. We will look into that. Drug trafficking is lucrative. For them, it is an easy way to make money. We will determine whether they are using money for them to be cleared from their cases,” he said.
Eleazar also said a follow-up investigation will be conducted to determine the source of drugs of the arrested suspects.
The suspects were brought to Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City for documentation while the recovered pieces of evidence were brought to Regional Drug Enforcement Unit office and will be subjected for technical examination before the PNP Crime Laboratory Office.
Charges for violation of Sections 5 (drug selling), 11 (possession) and 26 (attempt or conspiracy) of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to the Omnibus Election Code and Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban were prepared against the suspects.
Meanwhile, Eleazar commended the operatives for the arrest of the suspects, considering that the firearms recovered from them can be used as guns-for-hire and other criminal activities for the upcoming elections. (PNA)
