Couple Arrested in PHP 2-Million Drug Bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A live-in couple was arrested during a police anti-narcotics operation on the afternoon of December 11 in Pavia, Iloilo.

Alias Rex, 49, a resident of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, and alias Analyn, 45, a resident of Barangay Ahong, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, were apprehended at their rented house in Barangay Pagsangaan, Pavia.

Members of the Pavia Municipal Police Station, along with the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6, Iloilo Maritime Police Station, and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office – Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), conducted the operation that led to the suspects’ arrest. The couple allegedly conspired to sell a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP 13,000.

Authorities recovered six additional sachets and five knot-tied plastic packs containing suspected shabu, along with several non-drug items during the operation.

Major Harold Rendora, Pavia police chief, said the confiscated drugs weighed approximately 300 grams and had a standard drug price of PHP 2,040,000.

Rendora identified Rex as a high-value individual (HVI) and a remnant of the Prevendido Drug Group, which was based in Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao. Rex, an on-call driver, had been previously arrested for drug-related offenses.

Police are verifying the records of Analyn, who was recently identified as a drug personality.

Reports indicated that the couple left Barangay Bakhaw a month ago as the city police intensified efforts to track them.

Over a week ago, the Pavia Police began receiving complaints about the couple hosting frequent visitors at their residence at all hours of the day.

Authorities believe the suspects sourced their drug supply from Iloilo City and Negros Occidental.

Rex and Analyn are now detained and face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.