QC narcs arrest 8 suspects in separate operations

Operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of the Novaliches Police Station arrested eight individuals in separate buy-bust stings in Quezon City.

Twenty-eight-year-old Maria Cora Laika Arienda, a resident of Valenzuela City and her 33-year-old live-in partner, Jose Marie Salonga, were both apprehended inside their home at Barangay San Bartolome on Monday evening.

Police said that prior to their arrests, one of their neighbors tipped the police that Arienda was seen with Salonga allegedly transacting with their drug clients.

A buy-bust operation was set at around 8 p.m. on the same day.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Rossel Cejas, commander of the Quezon City Police District Station 4 told GMA News that both Arienda and Salonga transacted P200 worth of shabu with their asset.

Shortly after the  trade was consummated at 9 p.m., police back-up together with the GMA News team arrived at the scene.

Upon arrival, an old lady standing outside the compound saw the raiding team barging into the compound.

The old lady, who was later identified as a close relative to Salonga, was heard screaming Salonga's name apparently to warn the target suspect that police had arrived.

Cejas revealed that after the shabu was handed over to a decoy police officer, the couple, who apparently heard the warning, evaded arrest and locked themselves inside their room.

Police Captain Dennis Francisco, chief of Station Drug Enforcement Unit of the same station together with the raiding team's head, Police Master Sergeant Gilbert Galguerra applied for a no-knock warrant by destroying the front door.

The team had successfully barged into the house and eventually arrested Arienda and Salonga.

Evidence found at the scene included 10 sachets of shabu, a weighing scale, and the buy-bust money.

Arienda admitted to GMA News that she was held in prison for months due to drug related case. She was released by the court last year in plea bargain deals.

She added that she opted to avoid drugs for many months already.

Salonga on the other hand said that he is the one involved in the illegal drug trade.

Francisco disputed Arienda's claim, saying she was  onniving with Salonga in the proliferation of drugs in the area.

Earlier that day, a buy-bust sting was also conducted by the same team against four drug suspects in the same barangay.

Fifty-three year-old Joselito Santos alias "Tisoy", who transacted P200 worth of shabu with a decoy policeman, was caught transacting drugs with 29-year-old Joel Palma, 35-year-old Clarence Sulit, and 37-year-old Ronald Cortez.

Found on the suspects were 10 sachets of shabu amounting to P14,000.

Francisco said that Santos underwent surveillance after they received information from a tipster that he was allegedly involved in the drug trade.

"Yang info text kay alyas "tisoy" vinalidate namin ang information at nalaman nga namin na silang dalawa ay nakikipag transaksyon sa mga nagtatrabaho sa sementero gaya ng supulterero at yung mga truck drivers." Francisco said.

Two more individuals who allegedly peddled drugs to residents of Barangay Sta Lucia were also arrested on Friday night by the same team.

Thirty-one-year-old Joseph Muños and 30-year-old Jodennis Blanca eluded arrest and fled on foot during a buy-bust sting.

The duo were later cornered in a creek and recaptured by police soon after.

Aside from the buy-bust money, 10 sachets of shabu were seized from the suspects who later admitted to GMA News that they indeed peddled drugs.

All eight suspects are now facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  An additional charge of resisting arrest had been filed against Blanca and Munoz. — DVM, GMA News