Hunt on for PDEA's 'mystery man'
Drug charges will be filed today against six suspects in yesterday's controversial shoot-out led by one of the top ten personalities in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's (PDEA) "Order of Battle."
Prime suspects were identified as Noel "White" Dineros of Barangay Luna, La Paz, alleged drug-runner and motel roomboy Mark "Macoy" Barbosa, an alias Gigi Perez of Mandaue, Cebu, a certain Denden and a certain Rhea. A "John Doe" will also be included in the charge sheet, the yet to be identified suspect now the PDEA's "mystery man."
The arrest cum 'neutralization' of Dineros is believed by the PDEA here to bring significant decrease in illegal drug trade and proliferation throughout Iloilo City and neighboring Iloilo towns.
The drug groups will "slow down," PDEA Regional Director Roybel Sanchez said in a The News Today (TNT) interview yesterday. This as he confirmed that Dineros is one of the strongmen of a known drug syndicate.
Yet it would be the "mystery man" who is now subject of yet more intense investigation. Such as intelligence sources told TNT that Dineros' desperate and bold attempt to flee yesterday was something that was "highly-unusual" if not downright stupid.
At least eight uniformed police officers belonging to the elite Regional Mobile Group (RMG) and the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) were present. All eight were also in full-battle gear.
Despite being outnumbered, Dineros seemingly was frantic to get his car out of the scene that supposedly gave his yet to be identified associate the chance to dash for freedom.
PDEA and the police has yet to identify the mystery man. TNT learned of "serious" efforts though to validate tips from civilian informants on allegations that a former Iloilo mayor was the man they are looking for.
The women suspects are believed to have been hired "for private services" by Dineros. All three were scantily-clad on board Dineros' car and came together with the suspect from a motel in La Paz District.
The PDEA asset on the other hand was allegedly described by the motel roomboy and alleged runner to be a "good customer" having paid previous orders of Shabu.
It was not immediately clear as to why the "mystery man" was with Dineros yesterday. However another TNT informant said one of the arrested women holds the answer.
The arrest of Dineros, a PDEA "high-value target" is expected to significantly affect drug trade in Iloilo. His last arrest was in November last year where he yielded to the raiding team without fuss.