MANILA, Philippines?Manila policemen arrested a couple Thursday morning after they were allegedly caught in the act of selling illegal drugs to their neighbors in the city.

Manila Police District Tondo Station 2 Asuncion police community precinct (PCP) operatives nabbed Lito Simbulan, 39, and his live-in partner Lota De Guzman, 40, both of 374-D Asuncion Street in Tondo.

Asuncion PCP commander Chief Inspector Joselito Binayug said that the couple was arrested at around 11:45 a.m. while they were allegedly selling shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) to clients along Saint Mary Street in Tondo.

Binayug revealed that they learned of the couple?s illegal activity while they were conducting routine patrol along Saint Mary Street and a concerned citizen approached them to tip them off.

The concerned citizen, he pointed out, had informed them that Simbulan and De Guzman were openly selling shabu to their clients.

Based on the tip, Binayug and his men went to a house along Saint Mary Street where they allegedly caught the couple in the middle of drug transactions. Their clients scampered as soon as they saw the policemen, leaving them behind.

The Asuncion PCP operatives confiscated from the couple two sachets of shabu and several drug paraphernalia.

Simbulan and De Guzman remains detained at the PCP pending the filing of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against them before the city prosecutor?s office.