Couple falls in Iloilo town drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A live-in couple was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation morning of June 8 in Pavia, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspects as Sandro Jor, 52, of Barangay South Baluarte, Molo, Iloilo City and Minda Manreal, 57, of Purok Mangga, Tubod Highway, Marawi City.

The couple has been temporarily residing for two years at Barangay Jibao-an, Pavia, where they were arrested at 6:52 a.m. on Thursday.

Members of Pavia Municipal Police Station, Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), and PNP Drug Enforcement Group, nabbed Jor after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P15,000.

As the police were about to arrest him, he ran inside the house where Manreal was caught using illegal drugs.

Following their arrest, the couple further yielded 13 more sachets of suspected shabu and other non-drug items.

Major Dadje Delima, Pavia police chief, said the seized drugs weighed an estimated standard drug price of P442,000.

Jor was previously arrested for another drug-related case but was released in March 2021.

The couple allegedly sourced their supply from Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

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