ANGELES CITY—A well-entrenched group allegedly operating an illegal drugs den in this city and nearby areas in Pampanga and Central Luzon is believed busted following the arrest of three leaders and 13 others during a series of drug busts in separate communities in this city Monday.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 3 regional director Christian Frivaldo identified the alleged leaders of the gang as Edmund Pineda, 56, and siblings Jojo, 31, and Joshua, 23, all of Don Bonifacio Subdivision here.
The other suspects were Christopher De la Cruz Castro, 32, of Mabalacat City, Princess Tanpoco Vicencio, 33, of Mexico, Pampanga, and Jovie Sulito Rio, 55, also of Don Bonifacio Subdivision in this city.
The Pineda siblings, Frivaldo said were included in the PDEA list of target personalities involved in the illegal drug trade. He said the suspects were caught while in a pot session at a residential unit along Zurich Street in the subdivision.
Follow-up operations in Barangay Balibago led to the arrest of 10 other suspected illegal drug users, said Frivaldo.
The suspects were Francisco Dugang Duaso, 31, alias @Dodong, of Mexico, Pampanga; Asis Tantiado Bansil, 21, of Brgy. Cuayan Angeles City; Joseph Zacarias Ronquillo, 39, of Baryo Matictic Norzagaray, Bulacan; Arjay Rosales Fernando, 20, and Rolando Gualdalajara Bernales, 57, both of Sto. Niño Balibago, Angeles City.
Villa Nesa Balasa Gonzalo, 31, native of Masbate; Sarad Estrel Mae Palacios, 27, of General Santos City; 8. Eprhraim Nitura De Jesus, 29, of Angeles City; Ruben Aresgaldo Sumayo,25, of A Santos extension and Elmer Nadonga Odevilas, 31, of Angeles City.
Frivaldo said residents in the community reported the presence of suspicious-looking men coming in and out of a residential unit being maintained by the suspects. He said PDEA operatives raided the place and caught the suspects by surprise.
A total of 90 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with an estimated street value of P1.15 million were seized by PDEA agents from the two drug dens.