Couple nabbed in PHP 1.3 million drug bust in Antique

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A live-in couple was arrested in Antique after authorities seized more than PHP 1.3 million worth of suspected shabu, the province’s biggest drug haul so far this year.

The suspects, identified as alias Jojo, 37, of Barangay 4, San Jose, and his partner alias Cheche, 21, of Barangay Concepcion, Belison, were caught at their rented apartment in Barangay Maybato Sur, San Jose.

Police said the operation was carried out around 2:10 p.m. on Sept. 24 by the San Jose Municipal Police Station, the Antique Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (APPO-PDEU), and operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6.

Authorities said the couple sold a sachet of suspected shabu worth PHP 20,500 to an undercover officer during the buy-bust operation.

Police recovered four more sachets of suspected shabu, a knot-tied plastic bag containing additional shabu, and several non-drug items.

San Jose police chief and concurrent APPO-PDEU chief Maj. Geremy Ian Magbanua said the seized drugs weighed several grams and had an estimated value of PHP 1,330,000.

Magbanua said neither suspect had previous drug-related arrests.

He added that Jojo was an Oplan Tokhang surrenderer in 2016 and graduated from a community-based drug treatment and rehabilitation program in 2018.

Magbanua said Jojo was considered a bodegero who could dispose of around 50 grams of shabu weekly.

He allegedly sourced his supply from Iloilo City and distributed it across Antique province.

The suspects are now detained and face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.