Nine suspected illegal drug traders were rounded up around Malacanang compound by joint operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
NBI spokesman Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin identified the arrested suspects as Rolando Laya Bryan Jason Batrina, Melvin Santiago, Freddie Nacion Jr., Esperanza Pido, Joan Garcia, Ronnie Gonzales Lao, Sulpicio Reyes Cassiler Jr., and Leonardo Dela Cruz Asa.
Lavin said the nine persons were arrested during a series of operations conducted by the NBI’s Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) and the PSG this June.
Following their arrest, the nine were presented for inquest before the Manila Prosecutors Office for violating Republic Act 9165, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Apart from this, Lao was also charged with illegal possession of firearms in violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions Regulations Act.
Acting on a tip from an informant, operatives arrested Laya, Batrina and Santiago during an buy-bust operation inside the Malacanang compound last June 7.
Following their arrest, follow-up operations were conducted in Barangay 662, Paco, Manila, where Nacion, Pido and Garcia were apprehended on June 17. Seized during the search were six plastic sachets containing methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu.
On the same day, operatives served another search warrant at the house of Lao in Barangay 831 also in Paco where Cassiler and Asa were caught having a pot session.
Operatives seized in Barangay 831 eight plastic sachets containing shabu as well as drug paraphernalia. (Jeffrey Damicog)