2 drug suspects fall in Tarlac City anti-drug ops

PDEA agents conduct an inventory of contraband recovered during a Dec. 29 raid of houses in Tarlac City. Photo by Maria Adelaida Calayag / Inquirer Luzon

TARLAC CITY—Two suspected drug pushers were arrested in a Friday morning raid (Dec. 29) in San Nicolas village conducted by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The houses of Roderick Patawaran, a 42-year-old restaurant cook, and his 40-year-old brother Rommel, were searched at 7:30 a.m. on the strength of a search warrant, said PDEA Central Luzon director Joseph Ladip.

PDEA agents recovered 50 grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) valued at P300,000 during those searches.

Sachets of shabu were allegedly concealed inside a cigarette box at Roderick’s house while shabu packs were reportedly found in a bag at Rommel’s house.

Rommel denied that the narcotics belonged to him. Drug paraphernalia were also recovered at the two houses. /jpv