Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Southern Police District have rescued six minors and arrested seven persons, including the leader of a drug group, in a suspected drug den in Muntinlupa City.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino on Friday identified the suspects as Cristina Lopena, 52, the alleged drug den owner; Marlon Macatuggal, 24, a paint artist; Mark Gil Patriarca, 35, also a paint artist; Dandrian Alvarez, 30, helper; Michael Lopena, 38; and Virgilio Valdrias, 30, all residents of Purok 1, Barangay Sucat, Muntinlupa City; and Rejay Lazaga, 19, jobless, of Marcelo Green, Parañaque City.
Aquino said the joint operatives of PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (PDEA RO-NCR) Southern District Office under Director Ismael G. Fajardo Jr., the Muntinlupa City Police Station and the Southern Police District implemented a lawful search in a house that doubles as a drug den in Barangay Sucat, Muntinlupa City on Tuesday afternoon.
Cristina is the alleged leader of the Lopena drug group operating in Muntinlupa City.
Seized were 22 transparent plastic sachets containing more or less 30 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” worth PHP204,000, 13 plastic bags containing dried marijuana leaves, weighing approximately 100 grams worth PHP12,000, three disposable lighters, aluminum foil strips with traces of suspected shabu residue, and one Caliber .38 revolver.