MALASIQUI: Two high-value drug suspects with more than PHP1.3 million worth of shabu were arrested during a buy-bust in Binmaley, Pangasinan on Monday. In an interview on Tuesday, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Pangasinan Director Retchie Camacho said the two male suspects, Herodutus Marquez and Joseph Tadeo, are considered high-value targets since they have been previously jailed for illegal drugs-related charges. Authorities confiscated about 200 grams of shabu and other paraphernalia. 'They have been monitored for a couple of months already. They have records for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. They returned to their old ways after they have served (jail) time,' he said in Filipino. Camacho said they are currently tracing where the suspects source the illegal drugs. On the same day, five grams of shabu with an estimate value of PHP34,000 were seized from one Gimalyn Bermejo in San Carlos City. 'She was acquitted from her previous case but returned t o her illegal drug business,' Camacho said. Camacho said several former illegal drug traders have undergone skills training and reformed their ways. Some, however, returned to the illegal trade to, as they claimed, support their families. 'They thought that this kind of livelihood is better and (can provide them) easy money but they fail to see its effects to other people, especially the young,' he said. PDEA and other government agencies and local government units are conducting information drives here, even inside jail facilities, to encourage persons deprived of liberty to look forward to a brighter future by taking part in livelihood skills training in community-based rehabilitation programs under the Balay Silangan Reformation centers. A total of 184 individuals from Pangasinan have graduated from the Balay Silangan reformation center from January 2022 to May 21, 2024. Source: Philippines News Agency