Republic of the Office of the President . PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY NIA Northside Road, National Government Center Pinyahan, Quezon City

PRESS RELEASE # 008/16 DATE : January 9, 2016 AUTHORITY : UNDERSECRETARY ARTURO G. CACDAC, JR., CESE Director General For more information, please text or call: Mr. Glenn J. Malapad, OIC, Public Information Office Tel. No. 929-3244, 927-9702 Loc.131; Cell phone: 09274560042 ______

PDEA, PNP SEIZED 55 GRAMS OF SHABU, 3 KILOS OF MARIJUANA IN 5 Drug personalities arrested

Combined anti-narcotics operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) confiscated 55 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, and 3 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves during separate buy-bust operations in Isabela on January 4 and 6, 2016. The operation also resulted in the arrest of five drug personalities.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G Cacdac, Jr. identified the suspects as May Sarah Masucat y Amil, 34 years old, jobless; James Parragua y Domingo, 36, driver. Both are residents of 2, Magassi, , Isabela; Mark Jerson Cisneros y Salvador, 23, of Calamagui 2nd, , Isabela; Jim Andres Pataueg y Bulan, 47, construction worker, and a resident of Alibagu, Ilagan, Isabela; and Marcial Ramirez y Managuelod, 25, security guard, of Santa Visitacion, Maggayu, , Isabela.

On January 4, 2016, at around 4:30 in the afternoon, joint elements of PDEA Regional Office 2 (PDEA RO2) under Director Derrick Arnold C. Carreon and Cabagan Police Office conducted a buy-bust operation in the vicinity of Purok 2, Magassi, Cabagan, Isabela against Masucat and Parragua which led to their arrest after they agreed to sell one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur-buyer.

Confiscated from Masucat and Parragua were one green pouch bag containing 11 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing 55 grams with an estimated value of P200,000 and the buy-bust money used during the operation.

Masucat and Parragua are now temporarily detained at the PDEA RO2 detention cell, while cases for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed in court against them.

On January 6, 2016, at around 9:45 in the evening, the same law enforcement unit of PDEA RO2 and Gamu Police Station conducted a buy-bust operation near junction Upi, Gamu, Isabela that led to the arrest of Cisneros, Pataueg and Ramirez after they agreed to sell three bricks of suspected dried marijuana leaves weighing three kilograms with an estimated value of P8,000 to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur-buyer. Also confiscated was the buy-bust money used during the operation.

Cisneros, Pataueg and Ramirez are now temporarily detained at the PDEA RO2 jail facility, while cases for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against them.

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