17 more nabbed for drugs

At least 17 alleged pushers and users were arrested in Metro Manila since Wednesday.

In Manila, at least 10 persons were apprehended in an alleged drug den in Tondo yesterday morning.

Armed with a search warrant, anti-narcotics police officers of the Manila Police District Station 7 barged into the house of Maylyn Mantala, 51, along Pilar street and reportedly caught her and nine others repacking shabu while using drugs.

Maylyn’s brother Nolasco, 31; cousin Arnelio Chuachingco, 43; Alle Dumaguin, 27; Melvin Bautista, 44; Alexander dela Ysla, 22; Elizabeth de Guzman, 47; Lyn Salao, 27; Genevieve Mantala, 20; and Michael Mantala were also arrested, station commander Superintendent Gerry Corpuz said.

Maylyn, Nolasco, and Chuachingco are in the police drug watchlist, he added.

Police reportedly seized 15 grams of shabu with a street value of P54,000 and a weighing scale from the suspects.

In Marikina City, a former policeman was arrested during a drug sting on Wednesday.

Former Police Officer 1 Ronnie Gonzaga, 32, was assigned at the Police Community Precinct 3 in Barangay Sto. Niño when he went absent without leave two years ago after he was linked to the illegal drug trade, said Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Biay, director of the Eastern Police District.

He is on the drug watchlist of the Marikina police, Biay added.

In Caloocan, Johny Selisana, Eduardo Serra and Melvin Yambao were caught reportedly using shabu during a police anti-crime operation in Barangay 176 before dawn yesterday.

A sachet containing traces of suspected shabu was seized from them.

In Pasig, John Ambagan and Ronaldo Casila were arrested for playing cara y cruz, an illegal coin gambling game, in Barangay Pinagbuhatan at around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Two sachets of shabu were reportedly found on their persons.

Marlon Ramirez was arrested for allegedly creating trouble along San Miguel Avenue in Barangay San Antonio. Two sachets of shabu were allegedly found on Ramirez, police said.