Pandacan’s top drug suspect nabbed

Text messages from concerned residents led to the arrest the other day of Pandacan’s most wanted drug pusher, who also allegedly killed two residents two years ago.

German Faller, 40, of Parcel street in Sta. Mesa, Manila, is allegedly responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs in Pandacan district. Residents reportedly kept silent about his illegal activities out of fear after he shot dead two toughies in 2006 and 2007, according to Pandacan police station chief Superintendent Abad Osit.

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales received the bulk of the text messages on Faller’s whereabouts and activities, and directed Osit to immediately act on the residents’ concern.

An undercover policeman was able to buy a sachet of shabu from Faller, who was subsequently arrested. The police found another sachet of shabu in the suspect’s pocket.

During interrogation, Faller, a member of the “Bahala na Gang,” admitted killing a street toughie in 2006 but paid the victim’s family P15,000 to settle the case.

Last November, he said he shot dead an illegal drug courier for double-crossing him. He said he also financially settled with the victim’s family.

Faller, who spent six months in jail for his first kill, said he uses aliases such as “Nice” and “Kiko” in his drug deals to avoid detection by the police.

He was initially charged with distributing, selling and possession of illegal drugs, even as the police officers are trying to locate the families of his murder victims to reopen the cases, Osit said.      – Nestor Etolle