3 suspected drug pushers nabbed in Pasay

MANILA, Philippines – Three alleged drug pushers, who kept eluding police dragnets, were arrested over the weekend in Pasay City.

Pasay City police chief Senior Superintendent Napoleon Cuaton identified the suspects as Jose Tubale Jr., 48; Jeff Carretero, 21, and Joven Torreliza, 41.

Tubale did not resist arrest when he was arrested at his house on Edang street, while Carretero and Torreliza were nabbed during a drug bust in Barangay Sto. Nino at the boundary of Pasay City and Paranaque City Sunday. They yielded .2 grams of shabu.

Cuaton said Tubale is allegedly responsible for the trade in shabu along Tramo Riverside in Barangay 156 while Carretero and Torreliza reportedly cover Barangay Sto. Nino and its environs.

Tubale is also facing seven other drug-related cases before the local courts, Cuaton said.

The arrest of the three drug pushers came following a directive from Mayor Antonio Calixto for the local police to wage an all-out war against illegal drugs. At least 80 drug suspects are being monitored by Pasay law enforcers and barangay officials.

According to Cuaton, Tubela reportedly comes from a family of drug pushers. “His brother, in-laws and close relatives are drug pushers. They are among those included in our order of battle for neutralization in the coming days,” he said.