Drug pushers arrested in ‘territory’

Two drug-pushing suspects who normally operate in Quezon City were arrested last week in an entrapment operation in Parañaque City where the duo thought they would be safe from the police.

Isidro Bautista, 32, and Marvin Canto, 40, were picked up last Thursday by members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) anti-illegal drugs unit at Better Living Subdivision in Parañaque City.

Senior Insp. Roberto Razon, QCPD District Anti-Illegal Drugs (DAID) head, said the two men were the source of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in the Libis area. “These men sell shabu in Quezon City but only in small amounts. When the desired amount is more, they prefer transacting in their turf because they are more confident that they won’t get caught,” Razon said in an interview.

A plastic sachet containing 98.89 grams of high-grade shabu worth P200,000 as well as the money used by the undercover policemen were recovered from the suspects following their arrest at 5 p.m. on Aug. 22. The two were later charged with conspiring to sell illegal drugs in the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office, which recommended no bail for their temporary release.

Razon said his men wanted to buy 100 grams of high-grade shabu but Isidro and Canto insisted that the transaction be done in Parañaque. “They commute and bring shabu in small amounts to Quezon City but the bigger deals are done in their territory,” the official explained.

Razon added that both men also tested positive for illegal drugs following their arrest.—Julie M. Aurelio