By DHEL NAZARIO
The suspects posing as agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are nothing more but drug dealers and have no prior connection with the agency, according to Taguig Police Chief Senior Supt. Alexander Santos.
In a press briefing yesterday, six of the nine suspects were identified as Ryan Bonn dela Cruz alias “Mokong,” Noel Rosas aka “Torio,” Mylene de Vera alias “May-May,” Aristotle Go Quintana, Anthony Ordoñez, and Ghakiez Tekma. The three others however, remain unidentified since none of the victims nor witnesses recognized them.
A manhunt operation has been launched against other members of the group who are now charged with kidnapping, robbery, usurpation of authority, and violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
According to Santos, the six identified suspects were involved in both incidents in Barangay Ususan on Feb. 4 and Feb. 18, when group members were seen in a CCTV footage posing as PDEA operatives, who later accosted a man in an alley and came out shortly with three other men who were apparently arrested. They allegedly extorted money from the three victims with ages 11, 16, and 31.
One of their vehicles, a Toyota Hilux with plate number UGQ-317 was found along in Makati City with cash worth R296,000, one ice pack and four sachets of suspected shabu, one plate number, one handcuff, a .30-caliber Carbine rifle, a .45-caliber Glock pistol, two cellphones, and handheld radios.
The Taguig City Police appealed to the public to go to their station if they were victimized by the said group, so they can file appropriate charges against them.
