Senior State prosecutor Archimedes Manabat issued his recommendation after receiving the affidavit of arrest and laboratory test results on Jonathan Dy, 28; Carlo Castro, 29; and Castel Vinci Estacio, 21.
Manabat said he made the recommendation "as the evidence shows that they acted together."
He said the three suspects opted to proceed with the inquest on the drug pushing charges filed against them by Chief Superintendent Geary Barias, commander of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), last Saturday.
Estacio was represented by the Paredes Law Office while lawyer Junel Anthony Ana represents both Dy and Castro.
In his report, Barias said Dy was found positive for ultraviolet powder while Castro’s urine tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol metabolites. THC is the main active component in marijuana.
Superintendent Andy Suan, head of the Special Operation Unit 2 (SOU2), said it was Estacio, a student at the De La Salle University in Manila, who appeared to be their prime target.
"Estacio identified himself among his clients as Brian so we prepared an operation plan against him, which was approved by the task force commander," Suan said.
Suan said Estacio, like Dy and Castro, volunteered his urine sample and tested negative for any banned substance.
He said it was Dy who received the marked P50,000 during the buy-bust operation at the parking lot of a fastfood chain at the corner of Tandang Sora and Commonwelath Avenues, at 11 p.m.
Aside from the 30 Ecstasy tablets, AIDSOTF policemen also confiscated the suspects’ cellular phones, a Honda CRV (plate number WMV-605) and a Toyota Vios (plate number ZCK-206).
The three suspects were turned over to the custodial center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame.