Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested 18 drug personalities during the simultaneous implementation of three search warrants in Quezon City on January 23, 2016.
In his report to PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac Jr., Director Erwin Ogario, Regional Director of PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (PDEA RO-NCR) said that subject of the warrants were three houses doubling as drug dens in Barangay Pag-Asa, Quezon City.
Acting on a series of reports through phone calls and walk-in informant that residences located in Pampanga Street, Palawan Street and Road 4, all in Barangay Pag-asa, Quezon City are being utilized as drug dens, elements of PDEA RO-NCR upon verifying the report through casing and surveillance operations, immediately launched the search, at about 2:00 in the afternoon.
Arrested during the operation were suspected drug den owners identified as Arnel Banado, 43 years old; Milafe Laping, alias Fe/Inday, 38; and Rolando Viray, alias Lando, 64; and suspected customers Julius Bergonia, 23; his brother James, 20; Rizalyn Quiazon, alias Osang, 29; Ernesto Camata, alias Jun-Jun, 46; Alex Paulino, 36; Jerry San Miguel, 44; Manuel Gaba, 35; Evangeline Eugenio, 49; Jerald Sese, 30; Jojo Alvarado, 35; Jesus Maglalang, 32; Rolly Perez, 36; Manuel Alcantara, 36; Nilo Abinio, 36; and Jose Maickel, 25.
Seized inside the dens were a total 60 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, with an estimated street value of P72,000 and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Banado, Laping and Viray will be facing charges for violation of Section 6 (Maintenance of Drug Den), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while the other arrested suspects will be charged for violation of Section 7 (Visitors of a Drug Den). (Mr. Glenn J. Malapad, OIC, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency)
