Buy-bust op in Sta. Ana, Manila yields P1.2M worth of suspected shabu; 9 nabbed

Nine suspects were arrested and P1.2 million worth of suspected shabu were confiscated by police during a buy-bust operation conducted in Sta. Ana, Manila on Friday morning.

The buy-bust operation was conducted by operatives of the Sta. Ana Police Station 6 in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Region at 11:45 a.m. at a condominium unit in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

According to National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Major General Debold Sinas, the nine suspects arrested were identified as Renoel Suare, Richard Compa, Oliver Paglinawan, Hamsa Bahasuan, Shaly Paredes, Zenaida Paredes, Angelie Cardiño, Sheryl Mesqueriola and Gunthor Linog.

A police officer who acted as poseur-buyer transacted with the suspects before the arrest.

Police confiscated from the suspects eight pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu; one cal. 22 firearm marked as RS-6 loaded with two live bullets of cal. 22; one battery-operated weighing scale; one black sling bag; and five pieces of P1,000 bills marked as buy-bust money.

Authorities said the confiscated suspected shabu weighed more or less 1,820 grams and have a street value of P1,234,404.

The suspects will face charges of violation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002) and Republic Act No. 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearm and Ammunition) and Presidential Decree 1829 (Obstruction of Justice). —KG, GMA News