Body of drug suspect found at a roadside in Iloilo town

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A suspected drug pusher was found dead morning of June 3 in San Joaquin, Iloilo.

Police identified the victim as Jumar Blanco, 39, of Barangay Tanque Ilaya, Roxas City, Capiz.

His body was found on the roadside of Barangay Quia-nan, San Joaquin.

His head was wrapped in a black garbage bag while his arms had visible traces that they were tied.

Eduardo Dabac, a farmer residing in the same village, found the body around 8 a.m. Saturday.

Police were unable to identify Blanco’s body until his family got wind of media reports of an unknown summary execution victim in San Joaquin, which is more than 160 kilometers from his residence.

As earlier reported, Blanco had a tribal tattoo on his left arm and a spider tattoo on the left side of his chest.

Captain Felix Perez, San Joaquin police chief, said the victim’s father positively identified the body Sunday morning.

Blanco allegedly left their home around 11 p.m. on June 2.

There was no visible injury on his body when discovered.

“We theorized that he could have died due to suffocation,” Perez said.

He added that the victim’s body was still soft, which indicated that he had just died before his body was thrown on the roadside.

According to reports, Blanco was charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), and usurpation of authority following his arrest on Oct. 27, 2022 in Jaro, Iloilo City.

According to his mother-in-law, they were surprised upon learning of what happened to Blanco.

The victim has seven children, four of whom are deemed kids with special needs.

Perez said they’re still investigating the motive and the suspects behind Blanco’s killing.

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It can be noted that Blanco was arrested after he posed to be a policeman.

It was by chance that Iloilo City Police Station 3 (ICPS3) intelligence personnel stumbled upon Blanco, who claimed to be a native of Yakal St, Josephine Village, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

The two intelligence operatives were on board a motorcycle when they saw two male persons standing at the dimly lit portion of Barangay Cubay, Jaro. Near them was a parked motorcycle.

The two police officers approached the duo but Blanco’s companion immediately boarded the motorcycle and fled towards Barangay Balabago.

Blanco was subsequently asked what triggered his companion to drive away. He offered no answer but he introduced himself as a policeman.

Blanco was then asked for his identification card and other pertinent documents.

However, he failed to present any proof of being a legitimate PNP personnel.

He was then arrested.

When frisked, his black sling bag contained a caliber .45 pistol loaded with five ammunition, a black holster, a mobile phone, and two sachets of suspected shabu.

Blanco claimed to be a trader of cooking oil.

He is allegedly renting a place at 7th St., Barangay Balantang Jaro, and another house in Roxas City, Capiz.

He also claimed to be a resident of Santiago City, Isabela.