MPD raids gambling, drug den in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines - Police raided over the weekend an abandoned warehouse in Tondo, Manila reportedly being used as a gambling and drug den and seized an undetermined quantity of shabu, drug paraphernalia and a video karera machine.

The warehouse, located along an alley in Dayao street and reportedly owned by couple Alex and Nancy Vergara, was verified as a front for drug sessions and gambling activities, according to Raxabago police station chief Superintendent Roderick Mariano.

At around 4 a.m. Saturday, anti-drug operatives conducted a buy-bust operation in front of the warehouse.

Mariano said that while the operation was ongoing, people ran out of the warehouse after receiving a tip that there were policemen around.

Suspected drug pushers Dario Brutas, 29, and Adonis Castro, 39, were arrested by the raiding team and four sachets of shabu were seized from them, he said.

Mariano said drug users pay a fee to sniff shabu in the warehouse, while those already high on drugs while away their time playing a coin-operated video karera machine.

Brutas and Castro were charged with illegal possession of dangerous drugs, while the Vergaras, who were not at the warehouse during the raid, were charged with maintenance of a drug den.

Mariano said he will ask the local government to permanently close the warehouse.   – Nestor Etolle