Angeles City—A Malaysian visitor and seven of her Filipino friends were arrested by anti-illegal drugs operatives following a bust in the entertainment district at Sto. Nino, Barangay Balibago here Thursday.
The suspects were identified as Misa Aleha Asen, 45, a transient Malaysian staying in one of the hotels here; Stephanie Emaas, 31; Jordan Corpin De La Cruz, 30; Melanio Manaois Leyva, 57; Edmundo Valderama Monzor, 62; Mark Anthony Pasukin, 31; Jonel Ligayu Salvador, 30; and Aurelio Ibanez Naigui, 60, all residents of Balibago.
Glenn Guillermo, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 3 information officer, said residents in the community tipped anti-narcotics operatives on suspicious individuals believed to be engaging in illegal drugs in one of the houses along Sto Nino Street.
In another development, Bureau of Immigration operatives arrested an American fugitive wanted in the United States for committing numerous crimes, including abuse of a minor in New York City.
The fugitive, identified as Francisco Loreno, was arrested in a hotel in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, following a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente.
According to the BI, the order was issued upon receipt of information about Loreno’s case.
“He is an undesirable alien and poses a risk to public safety, as he is a wanted criminal in the US,” Morente said.
Guillermo said PDEA3 operatives raided a residence occupied by the suspects. He said the suspects were busy sniffing shabu when caught by surprise by the agents.
The Malaysian, Guillermo said, was invited by “newfound friends” during his stay at a Fields Avenue hotel here.
PDEA agents seized 15 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P102,000 during the raid. The suspects were brought to PDEA regional headquarters for further investigation as violation of the
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act is being readied against them.
A warrant of arrest was reportedly issued against Loreno by the US District Court of the Western District of New York in March 2019 for violation of the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, for allegedly molesting a female younger than 13 years old.
“Fugitives, especially those wanted for crimes against minors, are not welcome in our country,” said Morente.
“We will make sure that these kinds of aliens are deported and banned from setting foot in the Philippines,” he added.
Loreno will be temporarily held at the BI’s warden facility in Taguig pending his deportation.
