Indie actor, 2 others nabbed in Mandaluyong drug buy-bust

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Antinarcotic agents have arrested an indie film actor and two others while peddling illegal drugs in Mandaluyong City, officials said Wednesday.

Actor Marc Wilson Layug was arrested while selling methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during a buy-bust operation in a unit at the California Garden condominium.

Layug, also known as Marc Dela Paz, was caught with telecommunications marketing executive Juan Salcedo Jr. and Arthuro Oledan Jr., said PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez.

The three were earlier thought to be selling ecstasy as the illegal drugs were contained in 122 capsules, said PDEA spokeswoman Evangeline Almenario.

“The suspects were caught selling 20 capsules but we seized a total of 122  meth capsules,” Almenario said.

Gutierrez said that Salcedo tried to swallow some of the capsules during the raid.

The suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, said Gutierrez.