MANILA, Philippines--Agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday seized P500,000 worth of drugs during a raid on a sari-sari (retail) store and three houses owned by a man identified by the agency as a drug pusher.

Col. Carlos Gadapan, PDEA regional director for Metro Manila, said Jerry Punzalan, 52, was arrested in his house at 704 Apello Cruz Compound in Malibay, Pasay City.

He added that Punzalan was known to sell drugs (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in the city and the provinces of Quezon and Batangas.

Arrested with Punzalan were his wife, Pat, and their relative, Venus Punzalan. Araceli Razon, a 71-year-old woman who was manning the store where some of the drugs were found, was also taken in for questioning.

Gadapan said that aside from the 200 grams of shabu worth P500,000, PDEA agents also found different drug paraphernalia, P7,000 in cash and a .45 cal. pistol in Jerry Punzalan’s houses.

The antidrug operation, which was conducted at around 4 a.m., was based on a search warrant issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Eduardo Peralta Jr.

Gadapan said a case of illegal possession would be filed against Jerry Punzalan and his companions.