Anti-narcotics agents of Parañaque City Police found yesterday morning about two kilos of “high grade” shabu worth P5 to P6 million inside an abandoned car in Batangas City Pier.
Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo, chief of Parañaque City Police, said two ziplock plastic bags were found beside the driver’s seat of a gray Toyota Corolla Altis with plate number XTU-479 at the parking lot of Batangas City Pier around 5:10 a.m.
Modequillo said the discovery was a result of a failed buy-bust operation wherein a certain RJ was their target.
Modequillo said elements of Parañaque-Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) conducted a buy-bust operation targeting RJ around 12:15 a.m. along Aguirre Ave., Brgy. BF Homes, Parañaque.
However, RJ sensed that he was about to transact with a police so he immediately sped off towards Sucat Road heading South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
“Hindi naman nagkaharap ang target natin pati ‘yung pulis na bibili dahil biglang humarurot na siya. Nakatunog na pulis ‘yung apalapit sa kanya. Talagang mailap itong target namin,” Modequillo said.
Parañaque-SDEU agents were able to get the plate number of the vehicle and followed him. They coordinated with Batangas Provincial Police Office and Philippine National Maritime Group and located the already abandoned vehicle at the Batangas pier, which led to the discovery of the illegal drugs.
Modequillo said they have been trying to apprehend RJ for about a month now, following a series of failed buy-bust operations.
“Hindi naman kasi basta-basta naikakasa ‘yang buy-bust. Naka-ilang ulit kami na makaipag-ugnayan sa kanya, pumapayag pero hindi siya dumarating. ‘Yung operation ngayon ang pinakamalapit na encounter natin dahil narecover natin ang sasakyan niya at na-verify natin na may dala siyang droga,” Modequillo explained.
Asked why his men weren’t able to immediately intercept the target suspect, Modequillo admitted that they “must have been too lax.”
Parañaque police are coordinating with the Land Transportation Office to verify and possibly locate the owner of the vehicle. (MARTIN A. SADONGDONG)