17 personalities nabbed in weekend police drive

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Thirteen drug suspects and four wanted personalities were arrested in consecutive operations conducted by Pampanga police over the weekend in various towns and cities.

In the City of Mabalacat, joint elements of the Pampanga Drug Enforcement Unit, Mabalacat City Police, SWAT Pampanga and members of 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) in coordination with barangay officials of Dau, implemented a search warrant for violation of RA 9165 at Daang Bakal and Roxas Street Barangay Dau, Mabalacat City, against Allan Pagaduan and Marky Herrera.

The implementation of the search warrant against the Herrera yielded three sachets of suspected shabu and various drug paraphernalia, while five sachets of shabu were also confiscated at the residence of Pagaduan. However, the two suspects were able to elude arresting officers and remain at large as of yesterday.

During the operation, police operatives were also able to chance upon one Jimmy Macarol, 51, who was in the act of using suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) while on their way to the residence of Herrera and Pagaduan. Macarol was immediately arrested by police while two sachets of shabu were confiscated from his possession.

Meanwhile, six more personalities identified as Joseph Monsuelo, 30, Gilbert Tuazon, 45, Jun-Jun Baluyut, 39, Joey Garcia, 38, Wendell Elgario,18 , Jay Raven Manlapid, 22, Joshua Policarpio, 23, Edwin Tobias, 30, and Agnes Reyes, 31, were also arrested by operating authorities for engaging in illegal gambling after they were caught in the act of playing “monte”.

Aside from their engagement in illegal gambling, the suspects will also be facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act as police recovered from their possession and control and a total of 25 sachets of suspected shabu amounting to some P50,000, various drug paraphernalia, as well as other materials used in their illegal gambling activities.

Furthermore, the manhunt Charlie operation conducted by Mabalacat police also resulted to the arrest of one Adriano Tobias, Jr., 60, by virtue of a warrant of arrest for adultery with bail recommended at P12,000 dated July 26, 2018 issued by Rochelle Santos Manuel, Presiding Judge of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Branch 1, Mabalacat City.

Similarly, joint elements of the San Luis police and 2nd PMFC successfully arrested three wanted persons identified as Redentor Taruc, 52, Richard Taruc, 26, and Romel Taruc, 22, by virtue of a warrant of arrest for the crime of direct assault issued by Richard G. Evangelista, Presiding Judge of the Second Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Mexico, Pampanga dated July 30, 2018 with bail recommended amounting to P36,000 each.

Lastly, the buy–bust operation conducted by Minalin police led to the arrest of another drug personality identified as Luciano Santos, Jr., after a police asset was able to purchase one sachet of shabu from the suspect.