Pubdate: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines) Contact: Muralla corner Recoletos Sts., Intramuros, Manila Fax: 527-7534 Website: http://www.mb.com.ph/frntpage.asp Author: Aris Ilagan DRUG BUST: PNP OFFICER, 2 MEN HELD Agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) have arrested a police officer and two of his men during an anti-illegal drugs operation involving some 124 kilos of shabu worth P246 million in San Juan, Ilocos Sur. Reports reaching the Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Operations Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City identified the arrested suspects as Chief Inspector Rey Arcangel, SPO4 Victorio Malabed Jr. and SPO3 William Villanueva, all detailed at the PNP Maritime Group also based in Camp Crame. Police authorities said the three were arrested by PAOCTF elements and Ilocos Sur PNP personnel while on board an L-300 van (PKU-384) at 9 a.m. on the National Highway in Poblacion, San Juan town last Saturday. Reports added that PAOCTF operatives established a checkpoint on the highway after they received information that Arcangel's group will be transporting a big volume of shabu to several dealers in Ilocos Sur before they will be shipped to Metro Manila. Two civilian companions of the three arrested policemen, identified as Pelagio and Joselyn Manuel, both residents of Batac, Ilocos Norte, were reportedly released by the PNP authorities after undergoing interrogation. Reports also said that Director General Panfilo Lacson, PNP chief, proceeded to the headquarters of the Ilocos Sur PNP Provincial Office to check the investigation being conducted on the three arrested policemen as well as possible involvement of other PNP personnel in the illegal drug trade in the area. When he returned to Camp Crame later in the afternoon, Lacson took with him SPO4 Malabed to undergo further investigation. Shabu A chief inspector (police major) and two of his men were arrested on Saturday by operatives of the Ilocos Sur police and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) in Ilocos Sur and seized from them some P250 million worth of shabu. Initial reports reaching Camp Crame Central Operations Center in Quezon City identified the suspects as Chief Inspector Rey Arcangel, Senior Police Officer 4 Victorio Malabed Jr. and SPO3 William Villanueva, all members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group and assigned to Camp Crame. Two civilian were also arrested. They were Pelagio Manuel and his daughter Joselyn. Police said it was one of the biggest drug haul this year but another setback to the PNP as all the suspects arrested were policemen. The three, the reports said, were arrested early Saturday morning in a checkpoint on the national highway in Poblacion San Juan, Ilocos Sur while the suspects were on board an L-300 van (PKU-384). Reports said PAOCTF and Ilocos Sur policemen set up a checkpoint after they received a tip that this group was able to smuggle into Ilocos Sur huge quantity of shabu. Seized from the suspects were some 124 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of R250 million. Reports from the office of Chief Superintendent Enrique Cuadra stated that the arrested lawmen were whisked to the Ilocos Sur police office where they were placed under intensive interrogation. Upon learning of the story, Director-General Panfilo Lacson, PNP Chief, flew to Ilocos Sur to personally interrogate the arrested lawmen to determine the mastermind in the proliferation of shabu in the province.