PDEA nabs 11 in raid on BGC hotel room

MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested 11 men in a buy-bust operation in a hotel in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig over the weekend.

The authorities were supposed to arrest suspected drug dealers Edmond Remegio and Pedrito “Malik” Coronel Jr., allegedly known sellers of party drugs in BGC bars, but also chanced upon a drug session in the hotel room.

During the raid, the authorities caught nine of the suspects taking the party drug GBL or gammaButyrolactone.

GBL is a synthetic depressant substance which PDEA said increases sexual drive and brings euphoria to the user.

PDEA presented the suspects before the media on Monday.

Aside from Remegio and Coronel, PDEA will also charge Manuel Romano Valdes Jake Guevarra Tolentino, Jose Carlo Dimarana Torres, Mario Manalo Aclan, Angelo Ambay Padasas, Jevel Tanda Ucero, Carlo Agustin Kasala, Legui Brylle Gonzales, and Bryan Gorraiz Dizon for alleged violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

PDEA agents confiscated 20 tablets of ecstasy, shabu, 12 bottles of GBL weighing 530.8 ml estimated to cost P300,000 and a bottle of yet to be identified white capsules during the raid. They also recovered drug paraphernalia.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said the buy-bust operation is a warning to party goers who take illegal drugs. He also said that the agency will intensify operations in upscale hotels suspected to be venues of illegal drug activities

“This is a stern warning to everyone who uses these kind of drugs and who loves to party during night. Time will come that we would still target you,” Aquino said in Filipino and English at a recorded press briefing. (Philstar.com)