Marikina’s top drug pusher arrested

Police have arrested Marikina’s top drug pusher following a car chase in the city last Tuesday.

The car of suspect Larry de la Cruz, 39, of Antipolo City, was forced to stop after ramming police vehicles in an attempt to escape a roadblock in Barangay San Roque.

De la Cruz and his wife, Dyesebbel, 52, gave up after realizing that they were cornered.

The couple yielded six sachets of shabu and the P1,000 marked money used in the buy-bust operation, police said.

Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., Marikina City police chief, said De la Cruz has been listed as the No. 1 drug pusher in the city while his wife was in the order of battle on illegal drugs in Barangay Malanday.

"We had been monitoring their illegal activities for some time and our patience paid off," said Ramos.

Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman, director of the Eastern Police District, said the arrest of the couple was the first major accomplishment of "Task Force Silangan," which called for a close coordination between the EPD and the Rizal provincial police in fighting criminality and illegal drugs.

Ticman presented the couple yesterday to the media at EPD headquarters along Caruncho Avenue in Pasig City during the formal launching of Task Force Silangan.

"The arrest of the couple is our initial accomplishment. More arrests will follow," Ticman said.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, former mayor of Marikina, earlier challenged the police chief to arrest the De la Cruz couple for their alleged drug peddling activities.

Ramos immediately created "Case Operation Plan Mr. and Mrs. Smith" to arrest the suspects. Since the suspects reside in Antipolo, Ramos coordinated with Senior Superintendent Freddie Panen, Rizal PNP provincial director for a continuous exchange of intelligence information.

At about 4 p.m. last Tuesday, a team headed by Chief Inspector Carlito Briones, head of the local police Station Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit, arranged the purchase of P1,000 worth of shabu from the couple.

De la Cruz set a meeting along Sumulong Highway in Barangay Sto. Niño, but transferred the venue at the last minute to Midtown Subdivision in Barangay San Roque.

Briones’ team, on board two vehicles, positioned themselves near the meeting place.

Minutes later, the couple arrived on board a red Honda CRV with license plate XSB 522. After handing over a sachet of shabu in exchange for P1,000, De la Cruz sensed the presence of the lawmen.

He stepped on the gas and sped off.

The lawmen gave chase and blocked De la Cruz car a few minutes later.

The suspect’s vehicle rammed the police vehicles blocking his path. "Wasak ang sasakyan niya dahil kung saan-saan niya binabangga ito para matakbuhan ang mga pulis ko," Ramos said.

De la Cruz yielded two sachets of shabu while policemen seized four sachets of shabu from his wife.

During the media presentation, the couple denied they were peddling illegal drugs. "Noong araw nagbebenta talaga ako pero sa ngayon hindi na. Hindi ko alam ‘yang binibintang nila sa akin," said De la Cruz, while covering his face with a white towel.

The couple claimed police wanted to get back at them because they had previously filed charges against nine officers.

Marikina City Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando congratulated Ramos and his men for the arrest of the couple.

"Good job. Carry on the good work," the mayor told her police chief.