The Philippine National Police flaunted its newly formed anti-illegal drugs group with its accomplishments several weeks after it came into being as a replacement for the defunct anti-illegal drug special operations task force.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said AIDG’s accomplisments include the busting of a big-time illegal drug group operating in Valenzuela City that led to a series of operations in Metro Manila.
On Monday, PNP chief General Ricardo Marquez pinned the “Medalya ng Kagitingan” (Medal of Merit) on 10 AIDG personnel who figured in the Valenzuela operation.
The awardees were IDG’s Special Operations Unit team leader Inspector Conrado Caragdag Jr., Insp Lito Pirote, Senior Police Officer 4 Leah David, SPO4 Alejandro Gerardo Liwanag, SPO3 Ronald Parreño, SPO2 Jerry Barit, SPO2 Angelito Aguilan, SPO1 Emmanuel Docena, SPO1 Annalyn Quintana, and PO3 Alejandro Flores.
The drug-bust operation happened on Jan. 12 in Barangay Lawang Bato where two Filipino-Chinese nationals were arrested and 36 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride known as “shabu” with a total amount of P180 million were seized from them.
Three equally important suspects, however, were able to escape.
With this AIDG’s accomplishment, a plaque of appreciation was also awarded to Ismael Fajardo, Director III, and Investigation Agent 5 Joseph Theodore Atila, both from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Following the Valenzuela raid, another AIDG operation on Jan. 15 in Binondo, Manila led to the recovery of 15 kilos of shabu worth P25 million.
The operation also resulted in a brief gunfight between police and suspects that dealt injuries to some members of the arresting team.