Cops seize P620,000 ‘shabu’ in Pampanga, Tarlac

Police seized these packs of alleged “shabu” (crystal meth) from two suspected drug peddlers arrested in Sto. Tomas town, Pampanga province on July 16. (Photo courtesy of the Police Regional Office 3)

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga—Authorities arrested nine people who yielded P620,000 worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) during buy-bust operations on July 16 and 17 in Pampanga and Tarlac.

Two suspected drug traders allegedly yielded on Saturday some P408,000 worth of shabu at San Matias village in Sto. Tomas town in Pampanga.

The Central Luzon police identified the arrested suspects as Hasimra Saripada, 35, who is on the list of “high-value individuals” in its campaign against illegal drugs, and Norania Maamor-Saripada, 34.

Using two marked P1,000 bills, an undercover policeman managed to buy a sachet of shabu from the duo.

Police from the provincial drug enforcement unit and Sto. Tomas allegedly confiscated a large heat-sealed transparent sachet of suspected shabu weighing 60 grams from the suspects and the marked peso bills.

The two were facing charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Mabalacat

In Mabalacat and Conception town in Tarlac province, anti-narcotics agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested seven people who allegedly yielded some P212,000 worth of shabu in separate operations.

PDEA-Central Luzon said its operatives arrested on Saturday night Reynaldo Baluyut, 29; Ricardo Baluyut, 56; Jaymar Quiambao, 18; and Maryjane Buan, 35, at Dapdap village in this city.

Allegedly confiscated from the suspects were nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing 15 grams of shabu with a street value of P103,500, assorted drug paraphernalia, and the marked money used in the sting operation.

Tarlac

In Concepcion, PDEA-Tarlac operatives arrested Ruben Pagcu, 48; Paul Dayrit, 40; and Ronnie Castro, 47, in a sting operation in Alfonso village on Sunday.

PDEA-Central Luzon tagged the three as “high-value targets.”

Some 16 grams of shabu inside three plastic sachets with an estimated street value of P108,800, assorted drug paraphernalia, and the marked money used in the buy-bust operation were allegedly confiscated from the suspects.

Charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were set to be filed against the arrested suspects. INQ

Most wanted

Policemen also arrested on July 17 the most wanted person in Apalit town, also in Pampanga, in Malolos City, Bulacan.

The Central Luzon police said Alexander Sarmiento, 21, was the subject of an alias warrant issued by Judge Katherine Legarda Pajaron of the Macabebe, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 54.

Sarmiento faces a charge for lascivious acts under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act with P200,000 recommended bail. INQ