The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested one of the alleged drug sellers during the outdoor concert in Pasay City last Saturday, where five people collapsed and eventually died.
In a press conference on Saturday afternoon, lawyer Joel Tovera, chief of the NBI anti-illegal drugs division, said they have arrested suspect Joshua Habalo alias “Josh” on Friday night after a series of monitoring and information-gathering.
“Tiningnan po natin ‘yung movement ng alias Josh na ito. Tinignan din po natin ‘yung background niya, and apparently, in 2014, he was already arrested by the NBI anti-illegal drugs division for selling green amore and green apple suspected to be illegal drugs,” Tovera told the media.
Tovera said an informant went to the NBI office on Thursday and informed the agency of Habalo’s plan to hold rave parties on Friday and Saturday.
“Namonitor po natin ‘yung kanyang galaw, ‘yung kanyang peers, and we are so fortunate that last Thursday, may informant pong dumating sa office at nagsabing magdadaos daw po ulit ang grupo ni alyas ng isang event, rave party so to speak,” he said.
“Nilaliman po natin ‘yung ating investigation, nakita po natin sa Facebook na isa si Josh sa mga organizers dito sa nasabing rave party which should have been held last night and tonight,” Tovera added.
An autopsy of the victims’ body by the NBI forensic division revealed that whatever they took damaged all of their internal organs and had the same effect as swallowing an explosive.