Onsite inventory of shabu worth P3.4 million seized from suspects in the City of San Fernando. Contributed photo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Separate drug sting operations here and in Mabalacat City Tuesday resulted to the seizure of some P3.5–million worth of shabu and the arrest of nine alleged “drug personalities.”
Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Valeriano De Leon said 500 grams of shabu worth P3.4 million was seized in Barangay San Jose of this city while another 15 grams of the illegal substance worth P102,000 was confiscated from a drug den along 7th Street Dapdap Resettlement Area in Mabalacat City, believed being used as transshipment point of shabu in Pampanga.
Police identified the suspects as Crispin San Pedro, 28, of Barangay Talang, Candaba, Pampanga; Roldan Escajille, 23, of Tondo, Manila; Jover Quijano, 28, of Tondo, Manila; Randy V. Sevilla, 29; Wilfredo M Montaray, 57; Riza S. Dizon, 35; Virgilio V. Ortega, 40; Daniel C. Catanghal, 19, and Eduardo C. Mercado, 47, of Mabalacat City.
De Leon said the series of drug busts is part of the government intensified supply reduction campaign following reports that some illegal drugs group in other areas have been targeting urban centers with booming economy.
“Pampanga is notably among the targets of drug syndicate due to the fact that the province has been known as a progressive place in Central Luzon in terms of economic activities,” said De Leon citing the presence of economic zones and entertainment spots.
The Central Luzon police chief however said he directed all police units in the region not to lower their guards in the campaign against the prohibited substance.
“I instructed all police units to be vigilant and reinvigorate their operations in combatting illegal drugs specifically shabu, the most available and commonly abused substance,” said De Leon in a phone interview.
The seized items were brought to police laboratory for confirmatory test while the suspects were taken to a PDEA detention facility as charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act are prepared against them. With media reports
