Three alleged drug suspects linked to narco politician arrested in Manila

April 8, 2019

Authorities arrested three alleged drug suspects reportedly connected to a narco-politician and confiscated P3.5 million worth of shabu in Manila early Monday morning.

In a police report, elements from National Capital Region Police Office- Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, Manila Police Station 4 and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a buy-bust operation inside an apartment located at Simoun St., Barangay 484, Zone 48 in Sampaloc.

The operation resulted to the arrest of Porferio Pementera, leader of the group, 39, and Orlando Naguinlin, 56.

During the operation, a certain Joseph Dela Cruz, a barangay tanod tried to impede other operatives which resulted to his arrest.

Investigation revealed that the arrested suspects are members of Pementera Criminal Gang engaged in drug trafficking operating in Manila and Quezon City.

Pementera and Naguinlin admitted to NCRPO chief Major General Guillermo Eleazar their involvement to illegal drugs while Dela Cruz denied.

Eleazar said they are connected to local a narco-politicians including Barangay Kagawad Ronnie Labongray who died during a police operation last March 28.

“They are being protected and finance by this local politician. We also found out that the politician is a relative of the leader of the group we arrested,” Eleazar told reporters.

Eleazar said the barangay chairperson who owned the apartment is included in narco watchlist of local politicians.

“We will be filing appropriate cases against him and eventually he will be remove from post,” he said.

Eleazar said the source of illegal drugs is being traced.

“We are still checking it, we are looking into a group that will going to be our basis for the following operation,” he said.

Suspects are also connected to high value target ninja cops engaged in drug trading activities particularly Jolly Aliangan, who is detained in city jail.

NCRPO said the operation was hatched through casing and surveillance against the criminal gang resulting into positive validation.

Confiscated were a total of 516 grams of shabu with street value of P3,508,800; one firearm, one hand held radio and drug paraphernalia.

The arrested suspects and recovered pieces of evidence were brought to RDEU office and will be subjected for technical examination before the PNP Crime Laboratory Office.

Cases for violation of Section 5 and 11 of RA 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, RA 10591 or Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition in relation to Omnibus

Election Code are being prepared for filling in court against Pementera and Naguinlin while obstruction of justice will be filed against Dela Cruz. Ella Dionisio/DMS