Taguig police nabbed most wanted drug trafficker

MANILA, Philippines - Stepping-up on its drive against drug traffickers, the Taguig City Police has arrested the alleged top illegal drug peddler on its list late last week.

In his report to Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Taguig Police chief, Senior Superintendent Arthur Felix Asis identified the arrested suspect as Michael Benito Tan, alias "Butch."

Police said Tan was arrested in a buy-bust operation set up by anti-drug operatives of the Taguig City Police along MLQ Street in Barangay Bagumbayan.

Tan is listed as No. 1 in the Top 10 drug hotlist of Taguig. Taguig Police earlier arrested alleged top drug peddlers in the city, including Richard Silvestre, fourth in the list; Isidro Llagas, seventh; Mardie Talampas, eight;  Jackie Abone; second and Rawie Castro, fifth.

Asis said seized from Tan were 140 grams of shabu crystals contained in nine plastic sachets, a 9mm Taurus pistol, two 9 mm magazine clips and the P5,000 marked buy-bust money.

Asis said the operation was a product of diligent police work and extensive surveillance.

Mayor Lani Cayetano meanwhile commended the Taguig police for doing a very good job in winning the war against drugs.

"We are confident that with the fall of the most wanted drug personality in Taguig, the rest will follow. This is a big accomplishment for our police force as the biggest player in the drug market has been taken off the streets," she said.

Since Mayor Cayetano took the helm in Taguig, an all-out war was declared against illegal drugs.

This year alone, six persons in the Top 10 drug hotlist had been arrested and the number of total arrests involving drugs significantly increased to 70 percent.

The city's crime rate has also gone down 56 percent for the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year.

"This twin achievements of the city's police will not go unnoticed. Peace and order is a very essential part of progress. Again, we commend the police for a job well done," Mayor Cayetano said.