CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Government anti-narcotics agents demolished two of the largest illegal drugs dens in Subic, Zambales, arresting 12 suspected “users” including the den “maintainers” who were caught by surprise by the raiding teams at Barangay Matain and Calapandayan at dawn Sunday.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 3 Director Christian Frivaldo said over 27 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with an estimated street value of P186,575 were seized from the drug dens.
Frivaldo identified the suspects as Felix Dagami Predas Jr, 43, and Loida Mamaril Predas, 35, both suspected drug den maintainers; Rico Dayap Mamaril, 40; Jhoan Vicario Diaz, 34; Renie Lugtu Sapnu, 31; Nino Rivera Carias, 43; and Crisanto Indoy Padilla, 41, all residents of the area.
Also arrested were Benjamin Monteverde Cruz, 41, another suspected maintainer; Elmer Villanueva Bais, 35; Rex Bagorio Soriano, 26; Emmanuel Guevarra Reyes, 52; and Marvin Manago Toralba, 21; all of Calapandayan, Subic, Zambales.
Initially, Frivaldo said it was a buy bust operation, but one of the suspects pointed to the drug dens during interrogation.
Follow-up operations led the operatives to the drug dens at Matain and Calapandayan being maintained by Predas and Cruz. Both suspects had been subjects of previous illegal drugs operations, but escaped dragnets.
Reports from residents in both communities pointed to the presence of suspicious individuals going in and out of the place, said Frivaldo.
On Sunday, the PDEA3 chief led operatives and sneaked into the communities unnoticed before they stormed the places occupied by Predas and Cruz.
Frivaldo said the raiding team found the suspects in the act of sniffing shabu.
Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being readied against the suspects. The confiscated items were brought to PDEA regional headquarters laboratory for confirmatory tests.