NCRPO to question apartment owner over P2-B shabu raid

MANILA, Philippines –  The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will invite for questioning the owner of a San Juan City apartment where 184 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, with a street value of P2 billion, was found during a raid on Feb. 25, an official said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, deputy chief of the NCRPO’s regional anti-illegal drugs special operations task force (RAIDSOTF), said they wanted to determine whether Marcelino Lao had something to do with the illegal activities of the three Chinese nationals who own the drug shipment.

Lao “has a lot of explaining to do,” said Laurel, claiming they were able to identify the owner of the apartment at the corner of Ortega and P. Guevarra streets in Barangay Addition Hills through the homeowners’ association.

Laurel admitted his men are still establishing Lao’s whereabouts.

The shabu shipment was found following the arrest of Chinese nationals Long Zong, alias Sonny Long, 51; Tong Chan, 38, and Wai Leung Cheung, 41, during a drug bust in Parañaque City involving 8.5 kilos of shabu worth P42.5 million.

Long then led operatives – headed by Superintendent Remus Medina, head of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operating Unit (RPIOU) – to his apartment.

In halting English, Long told Medina he rented the apartment for P33,000 a month for almost four years. Long did not say how he made the payment to Lao, who neighbors said they have not seen in a long time.

Long, Tong and Wai where charged with sale, trading, administration, disposition, delivery, distribution, and transportation of illegal drugs before the Parañaque City prosecutor’s office. Assistant City Prosecutor Napoleon Ramolete recommended no bail be granted them.

Another case of illegal possession of shabu was filed against the trio before the San Juan City prosecutor’s office with regards to the seizure of 184 kilos of shabu.