NBI busts 2 in QC den; seizes P65M worth of various illegal drugs, powerful firearms

By: Zacarian Sarao - 2 years ago

Photo from NBI

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested two individuals in Quezon City for allegedly maintaining a drug den and possessing P65 million worth of different kinds of illegal substances.

NBI officer-in-charge Director Eric Distor identified the suspects as Ramon Loarca and Wilson De Lara Palisoc. According to Distor, Loarca was a retired serviceman of the U.S. Air Force who re-acquired his Filipino citizenship while Palisoc was a Filipino citizen.

The two were arrested in Loarca’s house in Teachers Village, Quezon City on November 19, following a search of the residence where NBI agents found and subsequently seized various types of drugs such as ecstasy (334 tablets), shabu, cocaine, kush, and marijuana sticks; paraphernalia chemicals and laboratory equipment; and high-powered firearms like a 9 millimeter Uzi submachine gun, Remington shotgun, Glock pistol, .22 Automatic rifle, 800 pieces of ammunition for different calibers, and a high explosive munition.

Authorities estimated that the confiscated illegal substances amount to around P65 million.

Distor said they received intelligence information indicating that Loarca’s house is a haven for drug users. This, he added, prompted operatives of the NBI-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) under the Intelligence Service of the bureau to conduct discreet monitoring which confirmed the existence of the drug den.

Consequently, the NBI applied for the issuance of a search warrant on Loarca’s house before a regional trial court of Quezon City.

Distor said they believe the arrested suspects were creating an undetermined kind of dangerous drug “by mixing pulverized ecstasy with methamphetamine and cocaine to produce a new party drug for their clientele.”

Loarca and Palisoc were already presented for inquest proceedings before the office of the Quezon City prosecutor for violation of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.