Traffic enforcer, dozen others yield ‘shabu’

In his report to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, QCPD Director Chief Supt. Joselito T. Esquivel Jr. identified the MMDA traffic enforcer as Arturo Canlas, 38, of Barangay Bungad, who was arrested along with Alfredo Collera, a 38-year-old tricycle driver, of Barangay Paltok, for possession of illegal drugs and an unlicensed handgun. (File photo: MMDA/Facebook)

MANILA — Operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested a Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic constable and more than a dozen others during separate anti-drug operations Thursday.

In his report to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, QCPD Director Chief Supt. Joselito T. Esquivel Jr. identified the MMDA traffic enforcer as Arturo Canlas, 38, of Barangay Bungad, who was arrested along with Alfredo Collera, a 38-year-old tricycle driver, of Barangay Paltok, for possession of illegal drugs and an unlicensed handgun.

Canlas is listed on the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) drug watch list.

The arrest followed a phone call by a concerned citizen to the Masambong Police Station (PS 2), informing authorities that the suspects were roaming along Bayan St. in Bungad.

When frisked, the suspects yielded two sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) and a Caliber .38 revolver with eight live ammunition.

Meanwhile, in separate operations in La Loma, Talipapa, Fairview and Galas, police arrested the other suspects.
La Loma Police Station (PS 1), under Supt. Robert Sales, arrested Thursday Isagani Prodigalidad, 44, of Barangay Sto. Domingo; and Rudy Dalisay, 30, of Mandaluyong City, at No. 8 Don Pepe St. in Sto. Domingo and along Blumentrit St. corner Dapitan St. in Labo respectively. Seized from the duo were 9 sachets of shabu.

Prodigalidad’s younger brother, identified as Jonathan Prodigalidad, 41, was later arrested inside the PS 1 Headquarters for bribing the policemen, who arrested his brother with PHP25,000 cash. The latter was charged with corrupting public officials.

Operatives of the Talipapa Police Station (PS 3), under Supt. Alex Alberto, arrested in a buy-bust operation Ron Ron del Valle, 43; Raymond Hernandez, 38; and Roland Kile, 43, all from Barangay Pasong Tamo, at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday, at Pound St. CB Town Homes, Barangay Pasong Tamo; while Christopher Decano, 39, and Rommel Gabatan, 39, of Barangay Pasong Tamo, were arrested at about the same time.

Confiscated from del Valle and Hernandez were six sachets of shabu, two zip lock sachets of dried marijuana fruiting tops, drug paraphernalia, and the buy-bust money, while Decano and Gabatan yielded each a sachet of shabu.

Elements of the Fairview Police Station arrested in a buy-bust Joevert Lim, 30, of Barangay Gretaer Lagro; Jimmy Buenavente, 63, of Caloocan City; Ricky Romero, 30 , and Marjorie Cabading, 24 , both of Batangay Pasong Putik, along Hilltop, Barangay Greater Lagro. Confiscated were five sachets of shabu and the buy-bust money.

Galas Police Station arrested Jerome Balancio, 22 , Emil Bajet, 26, and Manny David, 45, all from Barangay Tatalon, at about 3:25 p.m. also on Thursday after a concerned citizen reported an ongoing illegal gambling along Banawe St. Barangay Tatalon. Responding policeman caught the suspects in the act of playing cara y cruz. When frisked, each yielded a sachet of shabu.

In another operation at 5:40 p.m., Galas police arrested Jay-R Misericordia, 33, of Barangay Sto. Domingo along Kabignayan St., Barangay Tatalon. He was initially accosted for smoking in a public place and when asked to empty his pockets, a sachet of shabu was confiscated.