Drug sting nets ex-Army sergeant, 2 cohorts in Parañaque

A former soldier who was one of Parañaque City’s most wanted for multiple counts of murder was brought back to jail on Thursday, this time for being a courier-pusher for detained drug lords.

A total of 206 grams of high-grade crystal meth, or “shabu,” worth P1.36 million was seized from Johnven Arnaiz, 40, and his two cohorts, construction worker Valentine Arnaiz, 52, (not related to the former) and driver Joseph Gabatbat, 37, during a buy-bust operation at the fourth floor parking area of a mall in Barangay BF Homes around 5 p.m.

Members of the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and Regional Special Operations Unit were able to buy 50 grams of shabu from the suspects.

Another 150 grams and several sachets of shabu, as well as an unlicensed .45-caliber pistol were found inside the sedan.

The three suspects were detained at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig.

They were charged with pushing and possession of illegal drugs, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Discharged from service

According to NCRPO chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar, Arnaiz was a former sergeant in the Philippine Army, but was discharged from service after he was charged with seven counts of murder.

He became the city’s top criminal and was detained at Muntinlupa police station in September 2017 but was later released after he settled the cases with the families of the victims.

Drowned in debt and kicked out of the Army, he then turned to illegal drugs business after acquainting himself with fellow inmates involved in illegal drugs.