LAWMEN arrested two suspected members of a drug syndicate and seized 22 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, worth P110 million during a buy-bust operation in Guadalupe, Makati City before noon Monday.
The suspects were identified as Ma. Rosario Echaluce, 38, and her nephew 19-year-old Angelo Echaluce, both residents of 0377 Cerbo Compund, Bilibiran, Binangonan, Rizal. They are now detained and placed under interrogation at the Southern Police District headquarters in Taguig City.
SPD director Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario said his men, led by Senior Inspector Wilfredo Sangel, recovered a total of 22 kilos of shabu as a result of the sting conducted at the ground floor of the Guadalupe Commercial Complex on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue around 11 a.m.
“This is a buy-bust operation. The suspects were the subjects of a surveillance and monitoring of our men from the DAID. We knew that the 22 kilos of high-grade shabu will be brought to Cebu,” said Apolinario.
He said based on their monitoring operations, the suspects have connections inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City and the mastermind is a Chinese national based in Hong Kong.
“They are operating outside our country. They established network and they have personnel tasked to store, deliver and sell. We are now conducting a follow up operation but we cannot reveal it now,” said Apolinario.
Aside from the prohibited substance, the authorities also recovered from the marked money, one mobile phone and other drug paraphernalia. SPD spokesperson Supt. Jenny Tecson said charges are now being prepared.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has ordered the relief of Makati City police chief Rommel Mitra.
No one among the officials of the Makati City government knows why Mitra was ordered to vacate his post. But they said they just know that Mitra has been replaced by Senior Supt. Emeldio Tagra.
Just recently, six Police Community Precincts commanders in the city were sacked for their failure to implement the PNP’s “Double Oplan Barrel,” the government operation in its war against drugs.
Among the commanders relieved from their respective posts are; PCP-1 in Brgy. Olympia, PCP-3 in Brgy. San Isidro, PCP-7 in Brgy. Guadalupe Nuevo, PCP-8 in Brgy. West Rembo and PCP-10 in Brgy. Rizal.
