TAYABAS CITY, Quezon – Two members of an influential political clan of this province were busted by police during an illegal drug operation Sunday in this city.
Quezon provincial director Sr. Supt. Antonio Yarra identified the suspects as Maria Fe Abutin Alcala and her daughter Toni Ann who were both apprehended after 115 grams of suspected shabu were confiscated from them by an operation jointly conducted by the Quezon Provincial Intelligence Branch, Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group PAIDSOTG and the Tayabas police.
Maria Fe is the sister-in-law of alleged Quezon drug lord Cerilo “Athel” Alcala who is the brother of Quezon 2nd District Rep. Vicente and former Agriculture secretary Proceso.
Athel, who is currently in the hospital and is facing ten counts of drug-related cases, as well as another sister Sajhid recently surrendered to authorities after being included in the High Value Target (HVT) list of police.
It was however a surprise for the arresting team that Maria Fe, a sexagenarian, would be caught red handed in the operation.
“She (Maria Fe) is not included in our list. It is Toni Anne who is included and we consider her as a high-value target,” said Yarra. “But based on the operation, it turned out that there is a conspiracy between the two in selling illegal drugs. When Toni Anne was arrested, some sachets of shabu were also confiscated from her mother.”
Yarra said that police team confiscated some 24 pieces of medium sealed transparent plastic sachet containing “shabu” with approximate weight of 115 grams and estimated street value of P212,750, P10,000.00 marked money and cash amounting to P6,100.00 in different denomination and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Meantime, police disclose that an ongoing operation is still being done with another member of the Alcalas said to be the main target of the pursuit activity.
Maria Fe and Toni Ann are now in the custody of Tayabas police while cases are being prepared against them.
(With a report from Danny Estacio) (AARON RECUENCO)