Brothers fall in drug sting, guns seized

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two brothers were arrested after they allegedly conspired in selling suspected drugs evening of May 25, 2021 in Lapuz, Iloilo City.

Police identified the suspects as Amer Ombar, 42, and Solayman Ombar, 19, both residents of Barangay Loboc, Lapuz district.

Members of the Mandurriao Police Station, together with the Iloilo City Police Office-City Intelligence Unit and Regional Maritime Unit 6, arrested the Ombars after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P11,000.

Major Jose Mark Anthony Gesulga, Mandurriao police chief, said the older Ombar received the money while Solayman handed the illegal drugs to the undercover police.

It was initially agreed that the trade-off would happen at Barangay Pali-Benedicto in Mandurriao district.

But Amer later decided that they would hand in the shabu at their home in Loboc village.

Gesulga said the brothers were drinking liquor when the operatives arrived around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Aside from the sachet of shabu and the P11,000 marked money, police also seized a caliber .357 revolver, an M1 Garand rifle, a rifle scope, a mobile phone, assorted ammunition, four M1 Garand ammunition clip, a roll of aluminum foil, a pack of plastic bag, and a motorcycle.

Gesulga said they failed to present valid permits for the guns.

“We’re now checking with PNP Firearms and Explosives Office if the guns are registered to any person,” he said.

Gesulga added that the two brothers were suspected as street level pushers who got their supply from distributors in Iloilo City.

They are also considered as newly identified drug personalities.

The brothers are now detained at the lock-up cell of La Paz Police Station and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).