3 held for P5-M shabu at Pasay mall

MANILA, Philippines — Three suspected drug dealers were arrested and P5 million worth of shabu were seized in a sting at a mall in Pasay City yesterday.

Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) set up the sting at around 11:30 a.m. at an open parking lot of the shopping mall facing Diokno Boulevard.

Aladin Amiril Salilagia, Abner Nano and the lone female, Malina Nano, were apprehended after they allegedly sold a kilo of shabu to a PDEA operative posing as a drug buyer, Levi Ortiz, director of the PDEA’s Special Enforcement Service (SES), said in a text message.

The drugs were placed inside a brown paper bag. Ortiz said a kilo of shabu has a street value of P5 million.

Seized from the suspects are the marked money, two cell phones and at least six identification cards.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the background of the suspects and if they belong to a a bigger drug syndicate.

In Manila, tricycle driver Roman Telles was arrested along Daang Bakal street in Tondo, Manila Monday night after police officers spotted an object tucked into his waistband.

A .38 caliber revolver and a sachet of shabu were allegedly seized from Telles, 32, who is included in the drug watchlist, Manila Police District Station 7 commander Superintendent Gerry Corpuz said.

In Quezon City, a namesake of actress Maricel Soriano and 12 others were arrested in anti-drug operations over the past two days.

Soriano, 32, and her two companions Jerald Sese, 32, and Cedric Ferreros, 40, were having a drug session when they were caught in a shanty in Barangay Sto. Cristo at around 8 p.m. Monday.

In Pasig, Lorelyn Garde, Luisito Demano and Marcel Parone were arrested in separate stings on Monday.  – With Rey Galupo, Non Alquitran