SEVEN drug suspects in Orion town in Bataan province and another six in Zambales were arrested by combined operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and local units of the Philippine National Police recently.
In Bataan, the suspects were arrested inside a suspected drug den that also led to the confiscation of some P88,400 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu on Tuesday afternoon, November 9 in Barangay, Bilolo, Orion town.
The drug sting was conducted by anti-narcotic operatives of PDEA Bataan Provincial Office, Bataan Provincial Police Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Orion Police Station.
Authorities identified the arrested suspects as Mario Sarmiento y Baldobe (listed) alias Tigas, 59, married; Grace Sarmiento y Llanes, 58, married; Edward Sarmiento y Llanes, 35, single; Aries Angeles y Cruz, 38, single; Jerome Rodriguez y Malo, 24, single; Jocilyn Gutierrez y Pacanan 39, married; and Dennis Gonzales y Guinto, 28, single, all residents of Barangay Bilolo, Orion, Bataan.
The entrapment operation yielded some 13 grams of shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, a weighing scale and the marked money used by the poseur buyer.
In Zambales province, six individuals were collared inside a suspected makeshift drug den in Castillejos town that also resulted in the seizure of some P102,000 worth of shabu on Tuesday evening, November 09. The buy-bust operation was consummated at about 7:35 p.m. when operatives of PDEA Zambales and the local police swooped down on the suspected drug den.
Authorities identified the suspects as Pablo Viloria y Valdez, 54, male, single, resident of purok 5, Barangay San Pablo, Castillejos; Jeffrey Mayo y Ladrillio, 38, single, male, resident of Purok 5B, San Pablo, Castillejos; Lorena Boringot y Laureto, 58, female, single, resident of Purok 1, Libas, New Cabalan, Olongapo City; Arnold Arlantico y Antipolo, 38, male, married, resident of San Pablo, Castillejos, Zambales; Randolf Gabriel y De Guzman, 34, male, married, resident of Barretto, Olongapo City; and Wilmer Custodio y Camina, 49, male, married, resident of Old Cabalan, Olongapo City.
The anti-drug operation yielded heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing about 15 grams, assorted drug paraphernalia and the buy-bust money.