Ecstasy in Makati

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) claimed to have busted a group of suspected Ecstasy dealers operating in Makati City following the arrest of a son of a retired police colonel and his three companions in simultaneous entrapment operations over the weekend.

The NBI Anti-Drug Task Force confiscated some 200 tablets of high grade Ecstasy worth P500,000 from the suspects last Saturday at a commercial center in Makati City.

Arrested were Don Aprid, 27, a son of retired police Superintendent Armando Aprid of the Pasay City police; Michael Balingit, an executive of a bank in Makati City; Oliver Barcelo, a student and Jose Ozaki, alias Zax, a known patron of bars in Makati and Malate, Manila.

Ruel Lasala, one of the team leaders of the NBI Anti-Drug Task Force, said the operation was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Edmund Arugay, chief of the NBI-National Capital Region (NCR) Division, said an operation was set-up following information about the group’s activities in Makati’s commercial district.

Arugay’s executive officer, Rosauro Bautista, said the four were arrested while trying to sell Ecstasy to several undercover agents of the NBI.

"These people, who all knew each other, were arrested one after the other after our assets contacted them," Bautista said.

Aprid was apprehended at the parking area of a mall while the three others were collared inside a shopping center.

"When told they were busted, the suspects tried to run away but the agents caught them," Bautista said.

Two other suspects, Charles Lu and his wife Princess Basco Lu managed to escape on foot leaving behind their vehicle, a black Ford Lynx with plate number XBL-122.

"Apparently the couple was forced to leave their car to avoid getting caught in heavy traffic on Ayala Avenue and EDSA by pursuing lawmen," Lasala said.

He said they are readying charges against the suspects for violation of Republic Act 9165, also known as Comprehensive Anti-Drug Law.