MANILA, Philippines — Police are investigating the links of an arrested drug dealer with narco-politicians, after it was confirmed that the apartment in Manila where the suspect was holed up belongs to a public official.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Guillermo Eleazar said on Monday that they will file cases against the barangay chairperson who owns the apartment unit where suspect Porferio Pementera, alias “Jon-Jon,” was arrested.
According to Metro Manila’s top cop, the unnamed barangay chairperson is included in the drug watchlist of local politicians.
“Meron tayong appropriate na kaso na ifa-file sa kanya at eventually, matanggal sya sa kanyang katungkulan,” Eleazar said in a message to reporters.
Earlier, Pementera, 39, and another member of the Pementera crime syndicate identified as Orlando Naguinlin, 56, were nabbed inside an apartment unit at the C. Algostro Building along Simoun Street in Barangay 484, Sampaloc, Manila after a coordinated operation between NCRPO’s Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, Manila Police Station 4, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Unit.
Barangay public safety officer Joseph Dela Cruz was also arrested for trying to prevent officials from carrying out the operation.
According to investigators, the drug suspects operated within Manila and Quezon City. It was also revealed that Pementera and Naguinlin worked with former barangay council member Ronnie Labongray, who was killed in an anti-drug operation last March, as well as with “ninja cops” or police officers engaged in illegal activities, particularly former officer Jolly Aliangan, who is currently detained.
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Operatives recovered 516 grams of shabu worth P3.5 million, along with one firearm, a handheld radio, and various drug paraphernalia.
Eleazar said that they are tracing the source of Pementera’s illegal drugs.
“Chinecheck pa natin ‘yon, meron tayong grupo na pinaghihinalaan na syang magiging basehan natin para sa mga susunod nating operation,” he added.
The arrested suspects and recovered pieces of evidence were brought to RDEU office and will be subjected for technical examination before the PNP Crime Laboratory Office.
Pementera and Naguinlin will face charges for violating Sections 5 (Sale, Trading of Dangerous Drugs) and 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) of R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and illegal possession of firearms according to R.A. 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and the Omnibus Election Code.
A separate case for obstruction of justice will be filed against Dela Cruz. /je