2 nabbed for selling party drugs in bars

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) announced yesterday the arrest of two suspected drug pushers allegedly behind the proliferation of party drugs ecstasy, benzylpiperazine, and ketamine in entertainment and club circles in Metro Manila.

PDEA Special Enforcement Ser­vice (SES) chief Major Ferdinand Marcelino reported that Rogelio Angeles Jr. alias Ya, 43; and Jansen Gaw, 32, were arrested in buy-bust operations last June 23.

Angeles was arrested at around 1 p.m. along Panay Avenue, Quezon City after he sold four ecstasy tablets to an undercover agent. Anti-drug agents also seized his Toyota Corolla (USF-941).

Gaw was arrested at around 9:40 p.m. the same day in a follow-up operation at the seventh floor of the Park Avenue Mansions in Pasay City after he sold 10 benzylpiperazine (a recreational drug with stimulant effects) capsules and two vials of ketamine to a PDEA agent.

Both suspects were charged for violating Section 5, Article 2 of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which penalizes the selling of prohibited substances.

Reports said the PDEA also found out about the two suspects’ alleged celebrity clients, but refused to reveal names. The agency said it is focused on arresting manufacturers and pushers, not users.