Makati ‘tanod’ selling ‘shabu’ busted

A former barangay watchman using his cold drinks stand as a front for his illegal drug activities became the first suspect to be arrested by the Makati police’s newly created anti-illegal drugs unit.

Members of the Station Drug’s Enforcement Unit (SDEU) headed by Insp. Jeson Vigilla arrested 36-year-old George Razon in a buy-bust operation at 3:10 p.m. on A. Mabini Street in Barangay West Rembo on Friday.

PO1 John Rolf Garcia posed as a customer and bought two sachets of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P300 from Razon.

Four more sachets were recovered from the suspect when he was frisked, said case investigator SPO2 Rico Caramat.

Razon, a former barangay tanod of West Rembo, was using his business as a cover for his drug pushing activities, based on intelligence reports.

He was taken to the Makati police station where he remains detained on charges of violating Sections 5 and 11 (drug pushing and possession) of Republic Act 9165.

Unlike the former Station Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operation Task Group which is an independent police unit, the Makati SDEU which was created this month is under the Intelligence Section. President Duterte ordered in January the abolition of the anti-illegal drugs units of the Philippine National Police after several members were linked to the abduction and killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo. —Dexter Cabalza