2 fishermen nabbed in Caloocan drug bust

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested two Navotas fishermen during a drug bust in Caloocan City Monday night.

Chief Inspector Jay Agcaoili, Northern Police District (NPD) anti-illegal drugs division chief, said fishermen Edgardo Salandanan, 31, and Raul Gaborne, 26, were charged with drug pushing before the office of Caloocan City prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon, with no bail recommended.

Police Officer 2 Ariosto Rana, NPD anti-illegal drugs division investigator, said that at around 8:30 p.m., a five-man team led by Senior Police Officer 1 Jonathan Taguba arrested the suspects in front of a mall in Monumento, Caloocan City.

Agcaoili’s men received reports that two fishermen from Navotas City, suspected of being also the source of shabu used by some fishermen to fight exhaustion while at sea, were monitored plying their illegal trade in Monumento.

A weeklong surveillance operation confirmed that the two suspects frequented Monumento shopping malls.

An operation was planned wherein a poseur-buyer persuaded Salandanan for the acquisition of a sachet of shabu.

Salandanan agreed and after receiving the P500 marked money, motioned the “buyer” to a man standing nearby, identified only as an alias “Pewa,” for his “stuff.”

But Gaborne, who served as the lookout, sensed the police and warned their courier to run away.

Police captured Salandanan and Gaborne but Pewa escaped.   – Pete Laude