FIVE alleged notorious drug pushers based in Mindoro Oriental were arrested by a combined team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army in an operation in the town of Roxas last Sunday.

Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), said soldiers from the 4th Infantry Battalion, 203rd Brigade under Col. Carlos Quita, readily provided assistance to the agents of the PDEA Oriental Mindoro and the local police in the serving of multiple search warrants at the “safehouse” of the suspects in Bgy. Paclasan.

He said the operation resulted to the arrest of the following: Roberto “Ninoy” Bernardo, Isagani Gelindon, Ellen Gelindon, Radnor “Toots” Gelindon and Nickver Dimatulac.

Recovered from the suspects were some 14 grams of shabu, 29 more pieces of shabu in plastic sachets, some P14,000 cash and one .45 calibre pistol.     

The group was believed to be behind the proliferation of illegal drugs in the province and was holed up in the remote part of Roxas to avoid arrest as portions of the town are believed to be also harboring communist guerrillas from the New People’s Army (NPA).

Bolina said all the suspects are now in the custody of the local authorities and appropriate charges have already been filed in court.               Paul M. Gutierrez