By Minka Tiangco
Over P568,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate drug busts in Quezon City over the weekend.
Salvador Praxidio, Jr., 24, and Glenn Vargas, 24, both residents of Barangay Socorro, Cubao, yielded five grams of suspected shabu worth about P30,000 in a sting at the said area on Sunday at about 12:40 a.m.
On Saturday, police collared Aldon Dona, 30, resident of Barangay Obrero; and Jayson Yao, 40, resident of Makati; who were caught with party drugs at an apartelle at Barangay South Triangle at about 11:45 p.m.
Retrieved from the suspects were two grams of suspected shabu worth about P13,600; nine pieces of ecstasy valued at P13,500; 10 grams of high-grade marijuana or kush worth about P12,000; and five grams of suspected marijuana valued at P17,500.
Dario Reyes, 37, resident of Tondo, Manila, was nabbed by police at a checkpoint at A. Bonifacio Avenue corner Mariveles Street, Barangay Paang Bundok at about 11 p.m. after P34,000-worth of suspected shabu was found in his jacket.
Fifteen minutes prior to this, police arrested Ronald Mico, 30, resident of Barangay Sauyo; and Christine Joy Malasan, 31, resident of Caloocan City in a buy-bust operation at Machaca Compound, Barangay Culiat.
Fifteen grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P102,000 were recovered from the suspect.
Police arrested Nilo Primacio, 42; Rodrigo Paje, 27; Amante Reyes, 26; and Cedrick Candelaria, 23; all residents of Barangay Pasong Putik; after they yielded 5.2 grams of suspected shabu valued at P35,360 in a sting at the said area at about 10:30 p.m.
An hour and a half earlier, Mark Anthony Morales, 34, and Joebell Mendioro, 38, both from Barangay Sto. Cristo, were nabbed after they were caught carrying three grams of suspected shabu worth about P20,400 in a drug bust at the said area.
Raniel Marte, 26, resident of Barangay Bahay Toro, yielded 1 kilo of suspected marijuana with an estimated value of P120,000 in a buy-bust operation at the said area at about 6:20 p.m.
Police also arrested Michael Dejayco, 37, resident of West Kamias, in an anti-illegal drug operation at Barangay E. Rodriguez in Cubao at about 10 a.m.
Confiscated from the suspect was 25 grams of suspected shabu worth about P170,000.
The seized pieces of evidence were brought to the Quezon City Police Station-Crime Laboratory Office for laboratory examination.
The suspects are now under police custody and will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.