PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa tries to get answers from drug suspects Ma. Rosario Echaluce and Angelo Echaluce following their arrest. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Policemen seized 22 kilos of high-grade “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) with a street value of P110 million during an entrapment operation on Monday in Makati City.
They also arrested Ma. Rosario Echaluce, 38 and her nephew Angelo Echaluce, 19, both residents of Cervo Compound, Bilibiran in Binangonan, Rizal province, at the ABC Building in Guadalupe, Makati City.
The operation was conducted by members of the Southern Police District’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group who presented the suspects and the drug haul to Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa, at Camp Crame.
The suspects now face charges of unlawful sale of dangerous drugs and unlawful possession of dangerous drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
According to the police, Rosario and Angelo sold a kilo of shabu worth P1 million to an undercover lawman. Upon their arrest, they surrendered 21 more kilos.
Also seized from them were the marked money used in the entrapment operation and a cell phone.
Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario, SPD director, said in an interview that the suspects were members of a big-time drug syndicate connected with convicted drug lords detained at the New Bilibid Prison.
“The mastermind is a Chinese based in Hong Kong,” Apolinario added.
“They are operating from outside our country but they have people here who hide the drugs, deliver or sell it,” he said.
According to Apolinario, the suspects also identified other persons involved in their drug operations although he did not name them to avoid jeopardizing follow-up operations.