4 arrested, PHP 1.39M shabu seized in Iloilo City drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three high-value drug personalities and a barangay tanod were arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Iloilo City on the evening of Feb. 23.

Police identified the suspects only by their aliases: Rodney, 40, and Pong, 36, both residents of Barangay Tacas, Locsin Avenue, Jaro; Bernie, 29, of Barangay Dagami, Maasin, Iloilo; and Bingkay, 58, also of Barangay Tacas, Jaro.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit-6, together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group-Special Operations Unit 6, the Regional Intelligence Division-6, and Iloilo City Police Station 3, arrested the four suspects after they conspired to sell a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP 12,000.

Operatives also seized 13 more sachets of suspected shabu, a mobile phone, two rolls of aluminum foil, several empty plastic sachets, and other non-drug items.

Maj. Marvin Villanueva, RPDEU-6 deputy chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 206 grams with a standard drug price of PHP 1,394,000.

Villanueva said Rodney was the primary target of the operation, with conspirators Bernie and Pong present during the buy-bust. Bingkay allegedly served as the group’s lookout.

None of the four suspects had prior drug-related arrests.

Villanueva said they began monitoring Rodney after receiving multiple reports about his alleged drug pushing activities.

The suspects are in police custody and will be charged with violations of Sections 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and 26 (Conspiracy to Commit a Violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.