Army ‘frontliner’ nabbed in ‘shabu’ buy-bust

MANILA, Philippines — An Army reservist who served as a frontliner of the Joint Task Force (JTF) against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was arrested on Saturday morning following a botched sale of illegal drugs at a mall in Quezon City.

Joint operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police collared Pfc. Omar Pagayawan, an Army reservist who reportedly served as a COVID-19 volunteer, and two alleged cohorts during a buy-bust operation on Saturday morning.

DRUG BUST Army Pfc. Omar Salillaguia Pagayawan (left) and his two cohorts are handcuffed after their arrest in a sting operation on Saturday in a Quezon City shopping mall. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Caught in the act

In a report, Quezon City Police District Director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said Pagayawan, and his two companions, identified as Amel Abdul, 30, and Junaid Londay, 26, both from Caloocan City, were caught in the act of receiving P100,000 in marked money as payment for “shabu” (crystal meth) at Ever Gotesco mall along Commonwealth Avenue.

Seized from the suspects was 1 kilo of shabu, with a street value of P6.8 million, and a red Honda Fit car, with a “COVID-19 Frontliner” signage displayed on its windshield.

Pagayawan was wearing an Army camouflage uniform, with a brassard of JTF National Capital Region (NCR) when he was arrested, according to the PNP report.

Volunteer in Pasay

In a statement, Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said the JTF NCR has requested the delisting of Pagayawan as an Army reservist following his arrest.

“Pagayawan is under the National Capital Region Regional Community Defense Group and not an organic personnel of the JTF NCR,” he said.

According to Zagala, Pagayawan had previously rendered voluntary duty in Pasay City during the enforcement of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, but his tenure has reportedly been terminated on June 15.

Aside from criminal charge for illegal drugs, the Army reservist will also be charged for wearing a military uniform, with patches and insignias, supposedly without authority, the Army spokesperson said.