DOH doctor, 6 others nabbed in drug buy-bust

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents on Thursday arrested a medical officer of the Department of Health (DOH) and six others during a buy-bust operation at a condominium in Mandaluyong City.

Authorities identified the suspects as licensed physician Dr. Vanjoe De Guzman, Francis Gerald Fajardo, Mohammad Abdullah Duga, Michael Tan, Mohammad Arafa, Mark Adrianne Echauz, and Keanu Andrea Flores.

Authorities said that the operation was conducted past 12 midnight at De Guzman’s condominium unit located at M. Domingo St. corner Guevarra St. Barangay Highway Hills.

Recovered from the suspects were six sachets containing suspected shabu, one big transparent sachet containing 50 grams of shabu with a street value of P340,000, five bottles containing suspected to be liquid ecstasy worth approximately P30,000, drug paraphernalia, the marked money, and a cellular phone.

Suspects are detained at PDEA main office for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. /je