Cops nab commuter for carrying ‘shabu,’ fan knife

MANILA, Philippines—A 23-year-old man, who was about to board a northbound bus on EDSA in front of a mall in Mandaluyong City, was arrested on Friday afternoon for allegedly carrying 18 grams of substance believed to be “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

Senior Inspector Virgilio Santiago, chief of the Eastern Police District’s anti-illegal drugs unit, said Esma Macasalong, a laborer and resident of Dasmariñas, Cavite, was frisked by police’s bus marshals in front of the SM Mega Mall, around 3 p.m. on Friday.

“Initially, the marshals found a fan knife in one of the man’s pockets. But upon checking his bag, they saw four sachets of shabu,” Santiago said.

The sachets, which contain white crystal-like substance suspected to be shabu, weighed about 18 grams and has a street value of P100, 000, the police official said.

The illegal drugs were brought to the EPD headquarters for further examination and serve as evidence against Macasalong, who faces charges of illegal possession of deadly weapon and violation of Republic Act of 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.