Marijuana courier in tears; Erap gives P100k to tipster

A 23-year-old man arrested in Sta. Ana, Manila, for transporting seven kilos of marijuana was teary-eyed on Wednesday as he apologized to reelected Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada who told him to save it for the judge.

Jonathan Hulleza, a resident of Quezon City, said he was tasked to deliver the drugs to a man named Junel Co by a certain Joseph from Baguio City.

Hulleza was caught by officers under city hall’s Manila Action and Special Assignment (MASA) team after an informant told them that a drug sale would take place at the corner of Pasig Line and Zamora Streets, said MASA head Chief Insp. Bernabe Irinco.

Estrada gave the anonymous informant, who was also presented to him at city hall, a P100,000 reward.

Hulleza was initially arrested for carrying a bladed weapon, Irinco said. “We were able to intercept the drop-off of the drugs by chance.”

The suspect, who was promised P2,000 for making the delivery, said it was the second time he acted as a courier between Junel and Joseph, the first instance being in January.

Hulleza, a food service worker at a supermarket, said he agreed because his mother, a fish vendor, had asked for help to pay her P3,500 rent.

Asked why his monthly salary of P5,700 could not cover his mom’s needs, Hulleza said he also had a wife and 3-year-old son to look after.

As Hulleza and the recovered evidence—a pink canvas bag containing four blocks of marijuana wrapped in carton, a cutter and the suspect’s two cell phones—were presented to Estrada, the suspect whispered an apology to him. Estrada, however, told him to save his apology for the judge.

The suspect is now under the custody of the Manila Police District’s Anti-Illegal Drugs division and has been charged with violating Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive  Dangerous Drugs Act.