PDEA'S LATEST HAUL: P5M COCAINE

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday seized a kilo
of cocaine worth P5 million in an entrapment operation in Mandaluyong City
that resulted in the arrest of six suspected drug traffickers, including a
retired police lieutenant and a discharged Air Force serviceman.

PDEA chair Undersecretary Anselmo S. Avenido Jr. identified those arrested
as retired Inspector Rodolfo P. Fernandez, 63; discharged Airman First
Class Nelson E. Tobias, 44, of Fort Bonifacio, Taguig; and civilians Frank
R. Baay, 46, of Fairview, Quezon City; Eduardo D. Manuel, 45; his wife
Nenita, 40, both residents of Barangay Mission in Sta. Teresita, Cagayan;
and Joel B. Uy, 35, of Pulang Lupa, Las Pinas City.

Avenido said the six were nabbed by members of the PDEA Intelligence and
Investigation Service led by Senior Insp. Prospero A. Bona while conspiring
to sell the cocaine inside the house of Fernandez at No. 19 Fabella St.,
Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

He said the buy-bust operation was supervised by Chief Insp. Dionisio B.
Bartolome Jr. of the PDEA-IIS following reports that the suspects were
engaged in the trafficking of cocaine.

Avenido said he has ordered an investigation into the source of the cocaine
being peddled by the suspects.

All six suspects are now being held at the PDEA jail in Quezon City. A case
for selling of dangerous drugs, a non-bailable offense punishable by death
under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
will be filed against them.