175 OF 319 MEN ARRESTED IN 'TIANGGE' RAID FOUND USING DRUGS

Police authorities yesterday revealed 90 percent of the 319 persons
arrested during a raid in a shabu (hydrochloride methamphetamine) flea
market in Pasig City were found positive for drugs.

According to Anti-Illegal Drugs and Special Operations Task Force
(AIDSOTF) chief Director Marcelo Ele, 175 of the 319 persons arrested
were found using drugs.

The findings were based on the drug test they conducted on the
apprehended persons right after the operations, Ele added.

According to Ele of the 319, 59 were minors whose ages range from 10
to 12 years old. The minors are now in the custody of the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) while the adults are now
detained at the Custodian Center of the Philippine National Police.

In an initial investigation, the police found the minors were being
used as runners while some as drug traffickers.

The police also extracted specimens from the minors to determine if
they were also drug users. But Ele failed to reveal the results of the
drug test on the minors.

Joint elements of the AIDSOTF and Special Action Force conducted a
raid last Friday on a squatter area in Sitio Mapayapa on F. Soriano
Street, Barangay Palatiw and caught the suspects in the act of buying,
selling and sniffing shabu.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Vidal Querol
ordered Pasig City chief of police Senior Supt. Raul Medina and EPD
director chief Supt. Oscar Valenzuela to explain why they (police)
allowed the operation of the shabu flea market in their area of
jurisdiction.

The drug den is located behind the Mutya ng Pasig public market which
is a few blocks away from Pasig City Police Precinct 20 and 500 meters
away from the headquarters of the Eastern Police District.