Authorities arrested a couple who were both 18 years old for selling P850,000 worth of ecstasy party pills.
Jonathan Andal reported in “Unang Balita” on Wednesday that customers of live-in partners are still young party-goers secretly partying in hotels.
The two were caught in Manila and seized from them were up to 500 ecstasy tablets estimated to cost P850,000.
The suspects allegedly sell drugs to those who are attending in-house parties in Quezon City, Caloocan, and Manila.
According to the police, some hotel managers have secretly agreed to the secret setup of the parties while the bars in Manila are still not allowed to open due to health protocols against COVID-19.
The police said the suspects are online sellers of ecstasy and they often sell to young people like them who love parties.
According to the male suspect, they were only asked to dispose of the drugs. The woman refused to give a statement.
Also read: P9M worth of ecstasy tablets from UK seized at NAIA
P580k worth of ecstasy tablets seized in Manila
The issue of the use of party drugs in the Philippines became a hot topic after many speculate that the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera was due to drug overdose.
In an earlier report, it was stated in the affidavit of JP Dela Serna, one of the respondents, that he saw Mark Anthony Rosales, another respondent, took “powder drugs” and persuaded him to use it but he refused.
However, Dela Serna withdrew his statements, adding the police forced him to lie.
But according to Atty. Abby Portugal, one of JP Dela Serna’s lawyers and four other respondents, said the drug idea allegedly came from the Makati police.
“The powder issue insinuating drug use actually came from the mouth of the PNP Makati,” said Portugal.
Rommel Galido also retracted his statement that Christine told her that “Mark” put something on her drink.
According to reports, MDMA (ecstasy), one of the party drugs, is the third most abused drug, next to cannabis and methamphetamine.