By JONATHAN HICAP
Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano commended the city police for the arrest of another member of the so-called Tinga Drug Syndicate that led to the seizure of P20.45-million worth of shabu and marijuana.
In a buy-bust operation on Nov. 4, the Taguig police seized about three kilos of shabu worth P20.4 million and 41.7 grams of dried marijuana leaves suspected to be kush worth P50,040.
They arrested 12 suspects – Patrick Ace Tinga, 24; Tom Jovy Cruz, 30; “Charles,” 17; “Juan,” 17; Elmer Bautista, 34; Winston Ray Lopez, 20; Jessie Aviles, 24; Jomari Lopez, 19; Chris Klein Lopena, 19; Adrian dela Cruz, 22; John Paul Esteban, 26; and John Christian Roxas, 34.
“We vowed to keep Taguigeños safe. That means we will do whatever is necessary that is allowed by the law to protect them not just from COVID-19 but from illegal drugs and criminality as well,” said Cayetano, adding that this is proof of Taguig’s commitment to get rid of drugs in the city.
He added the city government will continue to support the local police in enforcing laws and arrest violators.
“We are a peace-loving people. Anyone who attempts to disrupt our peace is not welcome here,” he said.
The Cayetanos and Tingas are political rivals in Taguig. The Taguig city government said in 2016, Tinga Drug Syndicate member Joel Tinga was sentenced to reclusion perpetua for selling illegal drugs.
Elisa “Ely” Tinga, wife of Noel Tinga and a cousin of former Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga, was given the same punishment in February 2017.
She was at that time the third most wanted person on the list of illegal drug personalities and the seventh member of the Tinga Drug Syndicate to be arrested and jailed, the city government added.
The city government implements a one-strike policy against business establishments allowing customers to use illegal drugs. Under the policy, the city government immediately revokes the business permits of violating establishments.
