Capitol worker faces drug charges after sting

By Mariela Angella Oladive and Jennifer P. Rendon

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said a provincial government employee arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Sta. Barbara on June 17 must answer the charges filed against him.

“He will have to face the law and take responsibility,” Defensor told reporters on the sidelines of the Inter-Agency Territorial Defense Operations Exercise “Pag-ugyon 2026.”

The suspect was identified as Giovani Adelantar, 51, also known as alias “Banny,” a truck driver assigned to the Provincial Motorpool under the Provincial Engineer’s Office.

Adelantar is a resident of Barangay Don T. Lutero West, Janiuay, Iloilo, while a separate police report listed his address as Barangay Don T. Lutero East.

He was arrested in a roadside buy-bust operation in Barangay Camambugan, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, on June 17.

The operation was conducted by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit Teams 1 and 2, the IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, the Regional Intelligence Division, the Sta. Barbara Municipal Police Station, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Police said Adelantar allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu worth PHP 13,500 to a police poseur-buyer.

During a subsequent search, police said they recovered 16 more sachets and two knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu, along with several non-drug items.

Police Maj. Dadje Delima, IPPO-PDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed about 1.145 kilograms and had an estimated value of PHP 7,786,000.

Authorities described the seizure as among the biggest drug hauls in Western Visayas this year.

Delima said Adelantar had no prior drug-related or criminal arrest but was on the priority target list of both the Philippine National Police and the PDEA.

He said the suspect had been under monitoring for more than two years before his arrest.

“He’s a highly mobile and slippery target,” Delima said.

Delima said his unit had conducted at least seven attempts to arrest Adelantar in one year.

In three attempts, Delima said Adelantar did not show up.

In three other attempts, the suspect allegedly ignored the confidential asset.

In another attempt, only his alleged runner appeared and was arrested, Delima said.

Delima also said Adelantar had left his rented apartment in Barangay Parara, Tigbauan, and ordered his “Bodegero” to lie low in Bacolod City.

Delima said police believe Adelantar had just picked up his supply in Passi City, Iloilo, which was allegedly sent by a distributor from Metro Manila shortly before his arrest.

Police also believe that the bulk of Adelantar’s drug supply came from another drug personality based in Iloilo City.

In a radio interview, Provincial Engineer Romeo Andig said Adelantar had been working as a truck driver for the Iloilo provincial government for about 15 years and was assigned to Area 4.

Andig said Adelantar was not included in a recent random drug test conducted among Capitol employees.

However, he acknowledged that there had been rumors linking the employee to illegal activities.

He added that he regularly reminds personnel under his office to refrain from using or engaging in illegal drugs.

The IPPO said the recent arrest will further strengthen its resolve to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs throughout the province.

“We are grateful for the information and support provided by members of the community, whose vigilance and alertness have been instrumental in maintaining peace and order in their respective localities. Their continued cooperation greatly contributes to the success of our anti-illegal drug operations,” Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, IPPO spokesperson, said.

Adelantar is detained at the Sta. Barbara Municipal Police Station and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Republic Act 9165 covers offenses involving dangerous drugs, including their sale, possession, transport, and distribution.

Adelantar remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.