In its continuing support to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday said operatives of the NBI-Task force Against Illegal Drugs have arrested three individuals, including a former professional basketball player and a son of a former consul in Canada, during a buy-bust operation in Mandaluyong City on May 10.
The arrested suspects were identified as Dorian Alan Peña, a Filipino-American professional basketball player, known as the “Junkyard Dog” who played for San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, Barako Bull and Global Port Batang Pier; Jose Paolo Ampeso, a.k.a “JP,” son of Jose Arthur Ampeso, former chief consul general for Vancouver, Canada and Ledy Mea Mesia Vilchez, a.k.a. “Mae,” escort girl and live-in partner of Ampeso.
NBI Director Dante A. Gierran said the NBI-TFAID operatives, in pursuit of fugitive Jun No, a Korean-American national who is wanted for drug trafficking, involving the trafficking of a party drug ecstasy, stumbled upon an information that suspect Mae was the last known companion of the Korean-American national after the latter escaped from the hospital after undergoing a surgery for appendectomy.
Gierran added that the intelligence network brought in the information that “Mae” is an escort girl who delivers drugs for Korean clients.
The NBI said that with the help of an informant, a drug deal was set up at Merryland Village in Mandaluyong City between “Mae” and an undercover operative.
The three suspects were having a pot session before they were arrested, after the exchange of the marked money and methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
The suspects resisted arrest and showed signs of being under the influence of illegal drugs.
The suspects later tested positive for drug use.
Several pieces of drug paraphernalia and weighing scale were also seized during the operation.
The three suspects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice for violations of Sections 5, 6, 11, 12, 15 and 26 of R.A. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) with respect to suspects Ampeso, and Vilchez; and violations of Sections 7 and 15 of R.A. 9165 for suspect Peña.
“With the arrest of the three subjects involving a Filipino-American professional basketball player and a son of a former Diplomat of the Philippine Government, the NBI sends the clear message that there is no untouchable in the war against drugs under the present administration,” Gierran said.