5 drug pushers, 2 hawkers of abortion pills nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - The police’s heightened anti-criminality operations have resulted in the arrest of five street drug pushers, two robbers and two vendors of abortion-inducing drugs this week in Quiapo and Sta. Cruz areas, records obtained by The STAR showed.

Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent James Afalla said the arrest of five street pushers had significantly decreased the number of drug-infested barangays in his area of jurisdiction.

The five suspected pushers identified as Banjo Jimenea, 19; Fernan de Asis, 22; Jerome Bagaan, 19; Allan Ramos, 34; and Noel Fabillar, 38; were allegedly responsible for the proliferation of shabu in Elias and Quiricada streets in Sta. Cruz and Carlos Palanca street in Quiapo. Some five plastic sachets of shabu of still undetermined weight were seized from the suspects.

“We are now investigating the source of their illegal drugs,” Afalla told The STAR.

Moreover, two robbers victimizing commuters along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo were arrested after robbing a seaman of cash worth P57,000.

Afalla said Nestor Magbutay, alias Negro, 20, and his 16-year-old accomplice, the son of a barangay councilman, were the subject of numerous complaints from Quiapo commuters.

The drive against sellers of abortion-inducing drugs also gained ground with the arrest of two vendors of Cytotec tablets in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo.

Afalla said Mike Baranga, 20; and Doy Caparal, 40; both herbal vendors, were arrested by his undercover cops for selling Cytotec at P100 per tablet. Cytotec, an anti-ulcer drug, is being used by pregnant women to induce abortion.