2 busted for ecstasy, cocaine in Mandaluyong City sting

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) vowed to go all out in its campaign against all drug personalities in the wake of an operation in Mandaluyong City Thursday night that resulted in the confiscation of the party drag ecstasy in liquid and tablet form.

On Thursday night, PDEA agents confiscated ecstasy, in liquid and tablet form and cocaine during a buybust operation in a condominium in Mandaluyong City.

Confiscated during the operation were liquid ecstasy placed inside 20 energy drink bottles, another 1.6 liters of liquid ecstasy, with an estimated street value of 1480,000; 70 pieces of ecstasy tablets worth 146,000 and six packs of cocaine worth 1140,000.

Nabbed by PDEA operatives were suspected retailer Lester P. Almalbez, 35, of Unit 410 Princeville Condominium, Mandaluyong City and Herald Peñaflor, 26, the alleged drug supplier.

At around 9:00 p.m., agents of the PDEA-Special Enforcement Service (PDEA-SES) under Director Levi Ortiz arrested Almalbez and Peñaflor following an entrapment operation at the Mandaluyong condominium.

“We cannot discount the possibility that a new variety of ecstasy which is blended with cocaine is doing the rounds in bars and clubs. You could imagine its potency compared to the other mainstream drugs,” Aquino said.

PDEA is presently intensifying its intelligence gathering to arrest unscrupulous elements responsible for this new trend in illegal drug trafficking.

Cases for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against Almalbez and Peñaflor who are presently under the custody of PDEA-SES.

Aquino said that the target of a drug-free Philippines is realistically attainable only if there is full cooperation coming from the barangays, local government units, concerned agencies, law enforcement groups and the general public.