A TOTAL of P12.2 million worth of shabu were seized by the police in separate buy-bust operations conducted in Tawi-Tawi and Pasay.
On Saturday morning, October 16, a Filipino and a Malaysian died in an armed encounter with police and military operatives during a drug buy-bust operation in Tawi-Tawi.
Meanwhile a couple was arrested in an earlier drug buy-bust operation in Pasay City shortly before midnight on Friday.
Reports that reached the office of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar from Police Brigadier General Remus Medina, Director of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) identified the suspects as Nadzmil Ladia, a resident of Barangay Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, and Malaysian national Hardiman Bin Sabtula of KG. Sanang Air Peti Surat 0191207 Kuna, Sabah, Malaysia.
PGen Eleazar said the two suspects died in a shootout with PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) operatives along the shoreline of Barangay Pahut, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, October 16.
The PNP chief said the police-military team was effecting the arrest of the two suspects for alleged drug trafficking during a sting operation when the shootout erupted.
Police recovered from the slain suspects an estimate 1,500 grams of a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu with an estimated Standard Drug Price (SDP) of P10.2 million, 16 bundles of boodle money; five grams of suspected marijuana, two Identification Cards bearing the name of Nadzmil J Ladja and Hardman Bin Sabtula, two caliber .45 pistols and a yellow motorized boat.
On the other hand, PDEG operatives arrested Emmanuel Bartolome y Carreon a.k.a. “Jonjon,” 42 years old, single, Angkas rider, and a resident of 3793 J. Correa Street, Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque City; and Eliza Aurelio y Garcia a.k.a. “Dang,” 35 years old, single, a call center agent, and a resident of 3779 J Correa Street, Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque City.
The suspects were the subjects of a drug buy-bust operation under PDEA Pre Ops No. 10001-102021-0442 launched by PDEG operatives infront of Marbella-1 2223, Service Road, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, at 11:45 p.m. on Friday, October 15.
Confiscated from the suspects were 300 grams of a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu with an estimated Standard Drug Price (SDP) of P2.040 million, assorted identification cards, and two mobile phones.
“Anti-illegal drugs operations will continue without let-up even as the PNP remains preoccupied with law enforcement and public safety duties in response to the COVID-19 health crisis, and general anti-criminality and internal security operations,” the Chief PNP said.