2 cops, 2 retired Air Force officers nabbed in drug raid

A ranking policeman, a rookie cop, and two retired Philippine Air Force (PAF) officers were nabbed in separate anti-illegal drugs raid in Sampaloc, Manila and in Parañaque City yesterday.

Thirteen persons were nabbed by the Manila Police District (MPD) in Sampaloc while the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested eight people inside the house of one Gregorio Tayag Santiago, 43, in Merville Park Subdivision in Parañaque.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said the successive operations against illegal drugs in Sampaloc were in line with the MPD’s effort to stamp out street drug pushing, especially the University Belt to protect students from drug users and pushers.

Newly installed Sampaloc police station chief Superintendent Jose Asayo said his priority is to rid the district of rampant drug addiction.

"My marching order to my men is to apprehend all suspected drug pushers in Sampaloc," Asayo told The STAR.

The biggest catch of the Sampaloc police’s anti-drug operation was PO1 Dexter Arciaga, 26, assigned at the MPD’s District Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Group.

Asayo said Arciaga has been under surveillance after the MPD received information that he was responsible for the proliferation of recycled shabu in Sampaloc.

Arciaga, together with Rose Ann Antonio, 20, were apprehended while in possession of four plastic sachets of shabu.

Other suspected drug pushers nabbed in the notorious drug haven called "lungga" (lair) along Geronimo street were identified as Aldrin Medina, James Joaquin, Dennis dela Cruz, Emma Cris, Mary Rose Garay, Vivian Talaquian, Felix Santos, Glen Buenaventura, Ryan Abarquez, Ernesto Prado and Jonathan Pineda.

Seized from the suspects were several sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Summary dismissal proceedings, on top of criminal charges, are now being readied against Arciaga while the 12 other suspects face charges for violation of the anti-drugs law.

In Parañaque, NBI Acting Director Nestor Mantaring said one of the suspects is Chief Inspector Roberto Gabor, 48, assigned at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Holding Center in Camp Crame.

"We would recommend administrative charges be filed against him (in addition to the criminal charges," Mantaring said.

The other suspects, who are also residents of Merville Park Subdivision, include Gabor’s younger brother Josefino, 45, who retired from the PAF in 1995 and was an Air Force captain formerly assigned at the 15th Strike Wing in Sangley Point, Cavite.

Another suspect was Alex Hernandez, 45, who retired as lieutenant colonel of the PAF in 2005 and was formerly a member of the Squadron Commander Helicopter Wing in Villamor Airbase.

The other suspects were identified as Wenceslao Mendoza Jr., 34; Solaiman Lumanggal, 57; Ronal Nuñez, 36; and Jeremias Pedroso, 35.

Recovered from the drug den in Merville were 10.8 grams of shabu, Valium tablets, drug paraphernalia, a list of drug deals and a live hand grenade.

NBI-Reaction, Arrest and Interdiction Division (NBI-RAID) head agent Roel Bolivar said they received information early this month that a house in Merville Park is being used as a drug den.

Surveillance operations were immediately conducted and a search warrant was secured from Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr., of the Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 24 before the raid.