COPS SEIZE P232-M SHABU FROM 'ROGUE LAWMEN'

THE day President Estrada warned illegal drug traf-- fickers that he would
take them to hell, agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task
Force swooped down on a group of gangster cops operating in Ilocos Sur and
seized P232-million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

Reports reaching Camp Crame said arrested in the operation were three
police operatives assigned with the Philippine National Police-Maritime
Group headquarters and two others.

In a National Anti-Drug Forum for the Visayas on Saturday, Mr. Estrada
warned drug lords and their protectors (policemen and local government
officials), saying "I will not bring you (drug lords) hell, but I will take
you there."

Joint elements of the PAOCTF and the Ilocos Sur Provincial Police arrested
Chief Inspector Rey Arcangel; SPO4 Victorio Malabed Jr., and SPO3 William
Villanueva, all of the PNP-MG in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

One Pelagio Manuel and daughter Joselyn, of Batac, Ilocos Norte were also
nabbed during the operation.

PNP chief Director General Panfilo Lacson flew to Ilocos Sur Police
Provincial Office to personally Malabed and company.

The suspects will be presented to the media today by Mr. Estrada and Lacson.

Mr. Estrada said during the forum he would see to it that death penalty
will be imposed on all arrested drug traffickers.

"Drug lords deserve no mercy because of the threat they pose to the youth.
I will not give you mercy if you are meted the death sentence by the courts
for your crimes. I will see to it that you will get the lethal injection
that you deserve," Mr. Estrada vowed.

THE MANILA TIMES tried to PNP-MG director Sr. Supt. Regalado Rogelio in his
office but to no avail.

Reports reaching the PNP Operations Center said joint elements of the
PAOCTF and the Ilocos Sur PPO, led by Supt. Dennis Agustin, intercepted a
white Mitsubishi L-300 van with license plate PKU-384 along the national
highway of Poblacion San Jua, of the said province at about 9 am. Saturday.

The suspects were bound for Manila when intercepted by the police.

Seized from the suspects were 124 kilos of shabu, an M16 rifle, a caliber
.9 mm pistol and a cal. .45 pistol.

The report did not disclose the source of the said shabu.

Meanwhile, police arrested eight Chinese suspected of illegal drug
trafficking in separate buy-bust operations in Malabon and Caloocan City.

Su Zhi Shan alias Alvin Ching So, of 19 Yellow Bell Street, Araneta
Village, Malabon, was nabbed by the joint elements of PAOCTF and
PNP-Narcotcis Group while delivering 500 grams of shabu to a police
poseur-buyer on Araneta Avenue in Malabon.

Some P32 million worth of illegal drugs were also confiscated in a
follow-up operation in Shan's house.

In Caloocan City, police arrested Wang Cuo Cuai alias Marlon Ong, Wang Guo
Biao alias Gerry Ong; Ong Kim San alias Anthony Ong; Shi Hung Chin alias
Domingo Ong, Rosa Ong See and George Ong.

They yielded 500 grams of shabu worth P1 million during a raid in their
safehouse.

Another Chinese, Cai Ming, alias Roberto Ong, of 167-C Brgy. 102, 9th
Avenue Extension, District III, Caloocan City was collared by the police
during a raid in his house.

Some 300 grams of shabu were confiscated from the suspect.

Charges for violation of RA 6425 or the Dangerous Drugs Act are being
readied against the suspects."