Metro Briefs: March 1, 2019

Suspected gunrunner yields firearms, ammo, drugs

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has arrested a suspected gunrunner based on a tip from a concerned citizen. QCPD director, Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr., identified the suspect as Zandric Milan, a resident of Novaliches.  Seized from him during a raid on his house on Manga Street were three .38-caliber revolvers, ammunition, two sachets of “shabu” (crystal meth) and drug paraphernalia, said Supt. Rossel Cejas, Novaliches police Station 4 commander. He added that Milan earlier surrendered to barangay officials after his name ended up on the drug watch list. The police are verifying reports that the guns he was selling came from drug pushers in the area. Milan faces possible charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and the Commission on Elections’ gun ban. —Jodee A. Agoncillo

Valenzuela police arrest 5 men in drug bust

The Valenzuela City police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested five people in a buy-bust operation on Thursday. Ronnie Ortiz, Ariel Manalo, JR Gutierez,  Jerry Painagan and Marlon Desales were arrested on Gen. T. De Leon Road in Valenzuela City. A police report said that Manalo, who was on a drug watch list, along with Ortiz, sold a sachet of what appeared to be “shabu” (crystal meth) to an undercover agent. When frisked, Ortiz yielded five more sachets of the same substance. Seized from the other suspects were another sachet of what seemed to be shabu and P400 in cash. The five men were brought to Valenzuela Medical Center for a medical checkup, then to the Valenzuela City police station for the filing of charges. The items seized from them were taken to the Crime Laboratory Office in Camp Crame for examination. —Nikka G. Valenzuela