7 alleged drug pushers nabbed in Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines—A suspected drug pusher who doubled as a pimp and six others were arrested by narcotics agents in separate buy-bust operations in Central Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Saturday.

Rosalinda Regalado, 35, who allegedly was also engaged in prostitution, was arrested with her cohorts Mylene Sinson, 23, a guest relations officer, and Orlando Mangao Jr., 28, a pedicab driver wanted on drug charges, in the September 14 operation in Barangay Rizal-Estanzuela, Iloilo City.

Seized from the suspects were three heat-sealed plastic sachets of shabu, or methamphetamine hydrochloride, the PDEA said in a statement.

The three suspects are detained at the Iloilo City Police Station.

PDEA Director General Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. said Regalado, also known by the alias “Vanessa,” had been under surveillance by PDEA in Region 6 for some time before she and her companions were arrested.

On the same day, PDEA agents from the same regional command arrested Anecito Tabirao Jr., alias “Cokie,” 33, another man included on the PDEA list of suspected drug traffickers.

Tabirao allegedly sold two sachets of shabu to a poseur-buyer in a transaction on R. Mapa Street, Barangay Airport Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

He was placed under the custody of Mandurriao Police Station.

Meanwhile, agents of the PDEA in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao nabbed Alimodin Gadzali, 35, a “habal-habal” (motorcycle for hire) driver included in the PDEA ARMM watchlist, along with two farmers, identified as Jobert Batiocan, 27, and Julan Seit, 24.

Confiscated from the three were 11 heat-sealed plastic sachets of shabu and one small pack of marijuana, the PDEA said.

They are being held in PDEA ARMM, PC Hill, Cotabato City.