Brothers fall in P408K drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two brothers were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operations evening of July 13 at Jaro, Iloilo.

The operation against Armando Solas, 44, and Andrew Solas, 45, was conducted inside their family compound at Barangay Fatima, Jaro district.

The duo was placed under police surveillance after a confidential agent tipped authorities of their activities.

Armando is a father of three and a tricycle driver while Andrew, a father of 10, has no permanent means of livelihood.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Iloilo City Police Station 3 and Coast Guard District Western Visayas (CGDWV)-Intelligence Group arrested the Solas brothers after they allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for P8,000.

Police later recovered 11 more sachets of suspected shabu, two mobile phones, cash of P400, and several non-drug items.

Captain Roque Gimeno III, ICPO-CDEU team leader, said the seized drugs were valued at P408,000.

The brothers allegedly sourced their drug supplies from at least two areas in Iloilo City.

There are reports that the Solas brothers are connected to the group of the suspects who killed bar waiter Alejandro Panes Jr. but these are subject to validation.

The suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).