33 nabbed in Crame drug dens

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman and 32 others were arrested in raids on drug dens behind Camp Crame, the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), yesterday morning.

The PNP’s Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force staged simultaneous “blietkrieg-type” raids on 12 suspected drug dens in the densely populated Barangay West Crame in San Juan City, AIDSOTF chief Senior Superintendent Antonio Gardiola said.

He said the raids were the result of a month-long case buildup and the effective partnership between the PNP and the community to eradicate drug use in the barangay.

Gardiola said Police Officer 2 Ronaldo Baltazar, assigned to the PNP’s Headquarters Support Service, was arrested during the raids and is under investigation for his role in the operation of the drug dens.

West Crame is one of the barangays in Metro Manila that are most affected by illegal drugs. At least 160 police officers from AIDSOTF and the National Capital Region Police Office were tapped for the raids, he said.   

AIDSOTF spokesman Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia said the task force decided to stage a big-time raid near the camp to send a strong message that the PNP is conducting an all-out campaign against illegal drugs.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, who witnessed the operation, said the PNP will intensify its campaign against drug pushing and operations of shabu tiangge (flea market).

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said the PNP will make sure all police officers involved in illegal activities “will be put behind bars.”

Barangay West Crame chairman Teodoro Calaunan Sr. said he and other residents are “happy with the raids. I suggest bringing back the death penalty to reduce the use of illegal drugs.”