JOINT police and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives arrested Wednesday a big-time drug pusher in Lucena and three big-time suppliers of illegal drugs in Tarlac City.

Lucena City police head Supt. Ramon Balauag identified the suspect as Aaron Pastrana, 26, of Bgy. 10, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Bgy. 10.

Pastrana yielded 10 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with different markings, four packs of plastic sachets, two pieces of marked P1000 bills, two ATM cards, a bank deposit slip, three packs of small envelope, various drug paraphernalia and two passports under the name of the suspect.

Balauag said the operatives led by provincial officer Chief Insp. Joselito Villarosa conducted the operation at around 10 p.m.

While handling the suspected drugs and receiving the marked money from the poseur buyer, the lawmen collared Pastrana.

Asked if it was true that Pastrana tried to settle the case by offering P500,000 to them, Balauag replied, “Akala siguro niya (Pastrana) ay mukha kaming pera kaya nagtangkang manuhol.”

He said Pastrana and the seized evidence were brought to the Quezon Police Crime Laboratory for urine test and examination, respectively.   

The suspect was charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and detained at the city police jail.

In Tarlac City, police arrested anew three big-time suppliers of illegal drugs and confiscated P400,000 worth of shabu during their search and seizure operation on Rain Tree St., Capitol Garden, Bgy. San Roque, at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

City chief of police Supt. Arnel Ramos identified the suspects as Gilberto a.k.a. Betbet, 47, and Francisca Alfonso, 47, of Block 3, Bgy. San Nicolas, and a certain Romeo Tayag, 32.

Ramos said an Intelligence and Alert team led by Chief Insp. Philip Antang and Senior Insp. Rolando Magday arrested the suspects after serving a search warrant issued by Judge Cesar L. Aganon of the Regional Trial Court Branch 63, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Also confiscated from the suspects were a weighing scale, a bundle of transparent plastic sachets believed to be used in repacking shabu, one roll of aluminum foil and an unregistered motorcycle.

Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) head Supt. Ricardo Hidalgo said the confiscated shabu with a total weight of 42.09 grams was placed in two zipper bags, along with an improvised white envelope and heatsealed plastic sachets.

The operation was witnessed by Barangay Chairwoman Miemee Legaspi and a media personality.

A case of violation of Section 10 and 11 of RA 9165 will be filed against the suspects.

Mayor Ace Manalang lauded the policemen for the arrest of the suspected illegal drug suppliers in the province and nearby Angeles City.

Allegedly, Betbet’s daughter (name withheld) is a live-in partner of Kevin Tan, a drug trader who was arrested in Quezon City last November 2011 by the National Capital Region Police Office for possession of a kilo of shabu worth P2 million.