Pangasinan’s most wanted drug pusher nabbed

MANGATAREM, Pangasinan — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives and agents of the intelligence section of the police provincial office here arrested Pangasinan’s number one suspected drug pusher on Sunday in Barangay Torres Bugallon.

Chief Inspector Christopher Abrahano, PDEA provincial director, told The STAR that lawmen swooped down on the hideout of the suspect, identified as Abelardo Punzal, 46, younger brother of former Mayor Jessie Punzal of this town, at around 7 p.m.

The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Meliton Imuslan of the regional trial court in Urdaneta City.

Confiscated from Punzal were 21 sachets of metamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) weighing 100 grams, which has an estimated value of P250,000.

Punzal, who allegedly operates mostly in western and central towns of Pangasinan and in the neighboring town of Camiling, Tarlac, did not resist arrest, Abrahano said.

He also disclosed that the lawmen started surveillance on Punzal last September. His name was earlier submitted to President Arroyo as one of Pangasinan’s and the region’s most wanted drug pushers.