Drug suspect nabbed by PDEA tagged as Calabarzon’s ‘main source’ of shabu

MANILA, Philippines — The drug suspect arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in a buy-bust in Bacoor City, Cavite on Thursday is the alleged main source of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride in Calabarzon, according to PDEA chief Aaron Aquino.

PDEA agents arrested Ronnie Mardoquio Menodiado alias Boy during an operation in front of St. Dominic College along Molino Boulevard corner Aguinaldo Highway in Barangay Talaba 4.

“Menodiado, based on our investigation, is the main source of shabu in Cavite and the whole of Region 4A,” he said in a press briefing.

His companions identified as Victorio Vida Najera and Annie Rose Torres Lingua were also arrested.

A total of 15 kilograms of shabu packed inside tea bags and with a street market value of P102 million were recovered from them.

READ: PDEA, PNP Cavite operation nets P102M in meth

Aquino said the suspects, who will face drug charges, also distribute shabu in Metro Manila and in Zamboanga City.

He said the three are also habitually visiting colleges.

“We are still investigating if they are selling shabu to college students in the region,” said the PDEA chief.

The operation that netted the three suspects stemmed from an earlier operation on Tuesday where PDEA agents arrested Junior Sakilan Utto and his wife Misreen Surailk Utto in Barangay Molino 3 also in Bacoor City.

During interrogation, the two suspects revealed that their source of shabu is Menodiado.