MANDAUE City Police Office (MCPO) Director Julian Entoma will coordinate with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 to remind taxi operators and drivers about reports that their units are used in the illegal drug trade.

The police are looking into the matter after several people were arrested at checkpoints using taxis to transport illegal drugs.

At 11 p.m. last Saturday, 13 people were arrested by MCPO’s Centro Police Station led by Chief Insp. Aldrin Villacampa, who conducted a checkpoint on A. Soriano St.

They were identified as Sonny John Manipolm, 26; Raymond Carona 19; Mark Steven Baunsit 18; and Jonel Magbago 21; all from Barangay Looc, Mandaue City. Twelve packs of shabu were seized from them.

Five more people were arrested at other checkpoints earlier this year, including two last August.

The two were identified as Jeffrey Cardines and John Bernaldez, both 20 and from Cebu City. Seized from them were 10 packs of shabu.

The two said they were just told to deliver the package to a drop-off point under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Lapu-Lapu City and to take a taxi to the area.

Police also suspected that the two slain members of Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog’s security team used taxis to deal drugs. (Fe Marie D. Dumaboc, Correspondent)