Indie film actor, 2 others nabbed in drug buy-bust

An independent film actor and two of his companions were arrested by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents in a "buy-bust" operation in Mandaluyong City last Sunday. Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez, PDEA director general, identified the actor as Marc Wilson Layug, who goes by the screen name Marc dela Paz. Layug was arrested along with Juan Salcedo Jr., a marketing officer of a telecommunications company, and Arthuro Oledan Jr. at Unit 3/F of the Carlton Tower, California Garden along Libertad Street. Layug and Salcedo were caught on the act of selling 20 pieces of "capsulized meth" or shabu. "Salcedo tried in vain to swallow some of the capsules," Gutierrez said. PDEA agents eventually confiscated a total of 122 pieces of capsules containing 52.44 grams of the illegal drug substance. The PDEA added that Salcedo tested positive for illegal drugs during a mandatory testing. Appropriate charges of violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were filed against the three. - Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News