By Chito Chavez
Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday arrested four suspected drug personalities and seized 15 grams of shabu (crystal meth) worth P102,000 and various illegal drug paraphernalia as a drug den was also dismantled during a drug search operation late Thursday in Pasig City.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Aside from one yellow coin purse containing 12 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu, PDEA agents also confiscated two cellular phones and other drug paraphernalia used in the illegal drug trade.
Director Joel B Plaza of the PDEA Regional Office (RO) National Capital Region (NCR), identified the suspects as Venus Gonzales, 42; Gilbert Malagonio, 45; Joel Panganiban, 47; and Jean Cabaya, 49, all residents of Barangay San Nicolas, Pasig City.
The PDEA RO-NCR conducted the operation by virtue of a search warrant given by the court.
Plaza said the search warrant was served at around 11:00 p.m. at the residence of the target listed drug personalities in San Nicolas, Pasig City.
He said the PDEA conducted the search as mounting reports of the illegal drug activities in the community reached anti-narcotics operatives.
The arrested suspects are now facing criminal charges for violating Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), Section 7 (Visitors of a Drug Den), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia) of Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.