Over 100 suspects nabbed in raid on Lucena City shabu tiangge

More than 100 suspected drug suspects were nabbed during an operation at a "shabu tiangge" in Lucena City.

According to John Consulta's report on Balitanghali, surveillance video showed the illegal drug trade in Purok 3, Barangay Dalahican.

Aside from the eight drug dens, personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region IV-A, Lucena provincial police, Quezon province Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) and the Philippine Army also conducted operations in the seashore to ensure that no drug suspects will escape.

"Ang nakakaalarma dito, kahit may mga bata ay talagang nagdi-dispose sila. Kahit harap-harapan ang bata. So makita natin ang surveillance diyan, kahit umaga may nagdidispose dito. At ang nakakabahala, iba-ibang tao ang pumapasok dito," said Superintendent Vic Cabatingan, chief of the Lucena police.

Sachets of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia were seized during the operation.

The suspects who were arrested did not deny the allegations against them.

"Totoo po pero bihira na po. Di na po ko nagpapabatak... nagamit din po," one suspect said.

The suspects also underwent on-site drug test as part of the operation.

In a separate report by GMA News' stringer Peewee Bacuño, 24 individuals tested positive for using illegal drugs.

"Kailangan talaga sugpuin ang problema dito para makita ng kalapit baranggay na di talaga maaaring sila 'yung mamuno sa kalakaran," said Archie Grande, regional director of PDEA in Southern Tagalog.

Authorities, meanwhile, vowed to continue their operations to eradicate illegal drugs in the area.

"Ang kampanya po ng Quezon Provincial Police Office ay tuloy-tuloy at di po kami titigil hangga't ang kahuli-huliang pusher at user ay mapapanagot po natin sa batas," said Police Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento, provincial director of Quezon police. —NB, GMA News