2 Chinese arrested in P2.5-million drug bust

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested two Chinese nationals and confiscated from them 500 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with a street value of P2.5 million during a sting operation in Manila Friday.

Suspects Peter Sy, alias Tony Tan and Peng Wang Peng; and Edison Sy did not resist arrest when they were cornered by agents from the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) at the intersection of F.B. Harrison and Pablo Ocampo streets at about 10 p.m.

Aside from the shabu and the marked money, Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the NCRPO’s regional police intelligence and operations unit (RPIOU) also confiscated the suspects’ newly bought Toyota Altis.

Francisco said his informant arranged the purchase of 500 grams of shabu from Peter Sy last Friday and they agreed to meet in Manila. The two suspects were arrested after handing over the illegal drugs to an undercover police officer in exchange for P200,000 marked money.

“We have not established as yet whether the two suspects are brothers because they refuse to talk,” Francisco said.

According to the RPIOU chief, they used Peter Sy as a decoy in arranging the purchase of a bigger quantity of shabu from their source in Binondo last Saturday but their operation was “burned” when the drug syndicate’s lookout recognized the policemen accompanying Peter Sy. The deal was called off at the last minute.

Police filed drug trafficking charges against the two suspects before the Manila prosecutor’s office.

The suspects are detained at the NCRPO detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.