Couple falls in drug sting

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

SIX months after getting out of jail, a suspected shabu peddler was back in a very familiar place.

Rambo de Asis was arrested 9:00 p.m. of Aug. 10, 2019 at Barangay Poblacion, San Rafael, Iloilo.

De Asis, 31, of Barangay Aposaga, Sara, Iloilo, was arrested along with his girlfriend, 23-year-old Jean Flores of Barangay Puente Bunglas, Ajuy town.

Joint elements of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office – Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU, San Rafael and Sara police stations, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA-6) conducted the operation against de Asis after he was monitored to have engaged anew in the illegal drug trade.

Recovered from the suspects were 14 sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P70,000, P100 marked money and P10,000 boodle or fake money, two mobile phones, and a Honda motorcycle.

Police Major Jonathan Pinuela, IPPO-PDEU chief, said the suspect was arrested for a drug-related case in 2014.

But in Feb. 14, 2019, he was released after a plea bargaining deal, Pinuela said.

He was under the DI watchlist of illegal drugs personalities, thus he was considered a high value target (HVT).

His scope of operation includes the whole fifth district of Iloilo, except Barotac Viejo town.

De Asis is allegedly a member of the Baldas Drug Group, an alleged affiliate of the Poblacion Drug Group.