Drugbusters nab 9 in Tondo raid

Operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) apprehended yesterday nine suspected peddlers of shabu, which they said was "being sold like candies" in a Tondo community that has earned the nickname "Barrio Bato."

The MPD-District Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (DAID-SOTG) said Barrio Magsaysay had been tagged as Barrio Bato, the colloquial term used to refer to methampetamine hydrochloride or shabu, because of the alleged rampant selling of the illegal substance in the area.

"Drug peddling in the area is rampant. The drug is being sold like candies. Kapag pumunta ka doon, pagkakaguluhan ka ng mga nagbebenta ng droga," an MPD officer said.

He added that the selling of shabu had been going on for years and was even raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) two years ago.

Case officer PO2 Julieto Malindog, of MPD DAID-SOTG, said joint operatives from their unit, those from the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) and the Balut-Tondo police sub-station swooped down on the area at around 9:30 a.m.

They apprehended Wilfredo Zarraga, 48, an electrician; Violeta Baranuelo, 42; Crisanto Perez, 46; Carlo Jimenez, 27, technician; Roger dela Cruz, 33; Francisco Nolasco, 26, a truck helper; Joemel Ignacio, 32, pedicab driver; Ronald Carpio, 34; and Albert Battung, 22, an electrician.

All are residents of Cristobal street, Sevilla street, and Abad Santos street in Barrio Magsaysay.

Malindog said they recovered from the raid 14 heat-sealed sachets of shabu worth P11,600.

The MPD said their successful operation was a product of a two-week surveillance operation.