NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco identified those arrested as Arsadi Ali, alias "Sara and Samer," 23; Datu Ino Palawan, alias Norjohn, 18; Ayunan Tago, 28; all of Carlos Palanca Street, Quiapo, Manila.
Also arrested were Pahima Sanguan, alias "Sarah Yusop," 33; Almon Adam, alias "Dhay and Zhai," 28, both residents of Maharlika Village, Taguig City; and George Alamada, alias "Jahud Alamada and Jahud Madag," 23, a resident of the Islamic Center in Quaipo, Manila; Pasandalan Najieb, 28; and Renato Castillo, 46, both residents of Binan, Laguna.
Wycoco said Ali, Palawan and Tago were arrested by agents of the NBI’s Anti-Narcotics Division under Ruel Lasala during a buy-bust operation at the parking area of the SM City North EDSA last Monday.
Sources said Tago sustained a gunshot wound in the left leg after he was shot while allegedly trying to attack agents with a fan knife. He is now confined at the Philippine General Hospital. Seized during the bust was a plastic sachet containing 101 grams of shabu.
Last April 3, NBI agents conducted a buy-bust operation at the fastfood joint of a mall in Taguig and arrested Sanguan, Adam and Alamada.
In a simultaneous operation at a restaurant in Binan, Laguna, NBI agents seized 240 grams of shabu from Najieb and Castillo.
Charges for illegal drug possession and trafficking have been filed by the NBI against those arrested who are now being held at the NBI jail for further investigation.
Meanwhile, Globe Telecoms and the NBI launched yesterday a project that would enable Globe subscribers to get in touch with the NBI anywhere and anytime through short messaging service (SMS) or "texting."
Wycoco said Globe subscribers at anytime could contact the NBI to make inquiries, supply confidential information or be updated on case developments by texting their queries or tips and sending it to 2947.
Within 24 hours after texting, subscribers will get updates or answers to their queries also by SMS.
All queries and tips sent to 2947 are recorded by a computer at the NBI headquarters and are then processed by the NBI’s Station Web Interface.
"This would prevent pranksters from flooding the system with crank text messages. Once we have verified that these are indeed crank text messages, we will not hesitate to file criminal charges against them," said Wycoco.
Wycoco said that the SMS project is one of many lined-up by the NBI in cooperation with the private sector to make the bureau accessible to the public.