Drug pushers preying on teens nabbed in Valenzuela
MANILA, Philippines—Three suspected notorious drug pushers who were reportedly trying to get youngsters to use illegal drugs were arrested in Valenzuela City on Tuesday morning.
Valenzuela police chief Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento identified the three as Willy Estrella, Carlos Navaro and Rolando Navaro. They were arrested around 2:30 a.m. in their safe house on Urutia Street in Barangay (village) Arkong Bato.
According to Armamento, the suspects were on the city drug abuse council’s list of most notorious drug pushers.
“The three suspects were arrested way back for drug peddling but they were able to post bail because the old Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 was the law still in force back then,” he said.
He added that after the trio’s release, they went back to drug peddling but became more careful in their dealings, refusing to sell to people they did not know.
“The men were reportedly convincing teenagers who were on vacation from school to use illegal drugs. And they also enlisted their wives and relatives to look after their safe house,” Armamento said.
Upon receiving these reports and in cooperation with residents who were against the trio’s activities, the police put together an entrapment operation with the help of barangay officials.
On Tuesday morning, undercover policemen bought methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” from the three men who yielded six sachets of drugs upon their arrest.
Charges of possession and selling of illegal drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were later filed against the trio.
