Brothers, teen fall in drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Three brothers and a teenage son were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation in Passi City, Iloilo afternoon of September 26.

Police identified the suspects as Jeffrey Casas, 30, and Jovenel Casas, 38, both residents of F Palmares St., Passi City; and Jonel Casas, 40, of Barangay Malusgod, Pototan, Iloilo.

Lieutenant Colonel Jose Badilla, Jr., Passi City police chief, said they also collared Jonel’s son, 18-year-old Salvenel Franco of Barabgag Talongonan, Passi City.

Badilla said police operatives had their eyes on Jeffrey for about three weeks already.

“He was our subject, since we monitored him to be trading illegal drugs in Passi City and neighboring towns,” he said.

Badilla said the younger Casas allegedly persuaded his brothers to connive with him.

The operation against Jeffrey materialized 4:30 pm Saturday at F. Palmares St.

The suspects were arrested after selling a sachet of suspected shabu to a police undercover agent.

Passi City cops also recovered from their possession 18 sachets of suspected shabu, P6,000 including the P500 marked money, a mobile phone, a disposable lighter, and a motorcycle.

The value of the seized illegal drugs was estimated at P19,000.

Of the four suspects, only Jeffrey was on the watchlist of illegal drug personalities of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Badilla said the group may have sourced their supply from Negros Island and Roxas City.

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