2 OFWs arrested for drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Two Overseas Filipino Workers were arrested recently in Pasay City by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation together with the Royal Malaysian Police after being caught in the act of transporting illegal drugs.

In a press conference made by NBI director Nestor Mantaring, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Rep. Roquito Ablan, and Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente “Tito” Sotto III in Manila, the suspects were identified as Maryjane Turalde Vargas and Salvador Agunday Alberto II.

Vargas, 28, is a kindergarten teacher in Guming, Shenzhen, China, where she lives, while Alberto, 30 is a teacher at Shanwei College in Xiang Chang Road, Shanwei City, Guangdong Province, China, where he also lives.

Vargas was said to have arrived in the Philippines from Malaysia on July 31, 2009 and checked in at a Pasay hotel where she was met by Alberto.

Alberto was set to transport heroin to China in the afternoon of same date. At the departure area, Alberto was asked by NBI operatives regarding the contents of his luggage but he then immediately pointed to Vargas as the one who requested him to carry the luggage to China.

The bag carried by Alberto was found to have 887.8 grams of heroin.

The two were recommended to be prosecuted for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or the transportation of dangerous drugs and presently in custody with the NBI.

Meanwhile, seven Filipinos were also arrested last month alone along with nine West Africans, and one Sri Lankan.

In August 4, the groups again initiated an operation in Malaysia where they arrested 11 West Africans and seized 98 capsules containing 1.17 kilograms of compressed heroin and 1.018 kilograms of heroin. – AJ de la Torre/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)