Fake PDEA agent, two drug suspects nabbed in QC

A man claiming to be an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and two suspected drug pushers were arrested by cops from the Quezon City Police District in separate operations.

Carmelo Estondido, 38, was nabbed based on a warrant of arrest for alleged violation of the Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016, kidnapping, and failure to return a minor under Article 270 of the Revised Penal Code, according to a report on Unang Balita on Friday by Mark Zambrano.

The charges were previously filed against Estondido in Angeles City, Pampanga.

When authorities were about to arrest him, the suspect introduced himself as an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

"Nakakausap ko 'yung staff doon. 'Yun nga, wala siya sa list of PDEA personnel," said Police Superintendent Igmedio Bernaldez of PNP Station 11.

"Kakasuhan po natin siya ng usurpation of authority dahil po sa pretending siya ay personnel ng PDEA or any government office," he added.

Estondido, however, said he did not introduce himself as an agent of PDEA, but only said he is from PDEA's IT department. 

"Actually, hindi ko naman po sinabi na ako ay isang agent. Sinabi ko ako ay PDEA, ako ay sa IT lang. I don't want to talk about it na lang. Siguro sa attorney ko then I'll just explain," he said.

The suspect was detained at the QCPD Station 11 before being brought to the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 and 45 in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Two drug suspects

Meanwhile, two suspected drug pushers were arrested in Barangay Sto. Cristo in Quezon City early Friday.

The suspects, identified as Leo Rivas and Juvy Salazar, did not resist authorities after a sachet of shabu and marked money were recovered from them during a buy-bust operation.

Both were subjected to a drug test and tested positive for shabu.

The two suspects, who surrendered before, were on the drugs watch list of authorities before their arrest.

They are now detained at the Galas Police Station. —KG, GMA News