Malacañang has renewed its vow to cleanse the country of illegal drugs as it lauded law enforcers for the arrest of a suspected drug trader near the Malacañan compound in Manila last week.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said this after the National Bureau of Investigation-Dangerous Drugs Division (NBI-DDD) arrested a suspected illegal drugs trader at San Miguel, Manila near the Palace grounds where a drug den was also discovered on Oct. 16.

In a statement, Bersamin commended the NBI, the Presidential Security Group (PSG), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the local police for the apprehension of the suspected drug pusher and the seizure of drug-related paraphernalia.

"We call on law enforcement to relentlessly pursue the capture of his accomplices, who remain at large. Moreover, we ask for the full cooperation of all citizens in this ongoing investigation," he said on Thursday, Oct. 24.

According to Bersamin, the successful operation underscores the Marcos administration's resolve to eradicate the plague of illegal drugs in the country.

"Let it be known: no corner of this land, no matter how remote or concealed, will serve as a refuge for the producers and distributors of these lethal substances," he said.

"The full, unforgiving weight of the law will always descend upon them," he added.

In a statement, the NBI said the suspect, identified as Edgard Ventura, was arrested at a house along Nicanor Padilla Street last Oct. 16 during the service of a search warrant issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 37.

"Found and seized during the operation were nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be illegal drugs, and other drug paraphernalia," the Bureau said.

It added that there were 15 persons found on the premises. The DDD had invited them to undergo drug tests.

The NBI said the operation was conducted after the DDD received information that "a certain Francisco Soriano Jr. a.k.a. 'Juntot' and alias ‘Face’ are engaged in selling dangerous drugs, particularly, methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, and maintaining a drug den inside the Malacañang Complex."