Assorted drugs seized in Mandaluyong

FILE: PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino (Photo: PDEA)

MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized an estimated PHP337,500 worth of assorted illegal drugs and paraphernalia and arrested six suspects after raiding a condominium unit in Mandaluyong City early Thursday.

In a statement, PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino identified the suspects as Dianh Carlo Lescano Malayo, 25; Belinda Morrison, 25; Ian Mitchelle Custorio, 31; Ymmanuel Orfelia Parada, 26; and Pancrasio Masinsin Parada, 53.

Also nabbed was Dennis Ray Aguilar Thieke, 37, owner of the condo unit.

The operation at Unit 2104 at the 21st floor of the Eugenia Tower, Tivoli Garden Residences in Barangay Hulo was conducted at around 2 a.m. by virtue of a search warrant.

Recovered during the raid were: two sachets containing suspected shabu, weighing about 12 grams worth PHP60,000; 36 tablets and nine capsules of ecstasy with an estimated street value of PHP112,500; 13 bottles of different sizes containing suspected liquid ecstasy weighing about 660 ml worth PHP132,000; five sachets containing suspected cocaine, weighing approximately 10 grams worth PHP30,000; one medium-sized transparent plastic bag and one small jar containing suspected dried marijuana leaves, weighing approximately 50 grams worth PHP3,000; one bottle of white powdery substance suspected to be dangerous drugs; one Booster M4 with two magazines containing live ammunition; and assorted drug paraphernalia.

“Thieke’s condominium unit is being utilized as a drug den and at the same time, a clandestine laboratory used in the manufacture of capsulized ecstasy, a party drug,” Aquino said.

The five suspects will be facing charges for violating Section 7 (Visitors of a Drug Den) of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Thieke, meanwhile, will face raps for violating Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), Section 8 (Manufacture of Dangerous Drugs), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of the anti-illegal drugs law.

The PDEA agents also arrested two suspects identified as Engineer Felicisimo Aguilar Jr., 54; and Daniel Cajape, 32, village councilor and resident of Purok 2, Barangay Pag-asa, Dinalupihan, Bataan for allegedly bribing them in exchange for Thieke’s release.

They will be charged with violation of Article 212 (Corruption of Public Officer) of the Revised Penal Code.

The PDEA chief, meanwhile, lauded the agents for their exemplary act.

“I would like to commend our agents for their exemplary behavior for declining the bribe of PHP1 million.

This demonstrates that moral integrity and consciousness still form a greater part of the country’s law enforcement system,” Aquino said.