Dismissed Cop Nabbed in Iloilo City Drug Raid

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A dismissed police officer was arrested during a search and seizure operation on the morning of June 5 in City Proper, Iloilo City.

The suspect, identified only as Joel, 58, tried to flee as authorities served a search warrant at his residence in Zone 1, Barangay Veterans Village, City Proper.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office – City Drug Enforcement Unit, along with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group and the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics team, chased and cornered him inside a neighbor’s house.

Captain Ryan Christ Inot, ICPO-CDEU chief, said Joel was found hiding in an infant’s room.

Police then searched the suspect’s house and recovered 11 plastic sachets of suspected shabu; an improvised tooter with shabu residue; seven live rounds of .45-caliber ammunition; eight rounds and 19 empty shells for a .22-caliber revolver; an AR-15 airsoft gun replica; a Glock 17 airsoft gun replica; and other non-drug items.

Inot said the drugs weighed about 100 grams and had an estimated street value of PHP680,000.

Authorities said the suspect had been dismissed from the police service 20 years ago.

Previously assigned to the Regional Intelligence Division, Joel reportedly went AWOL after receiving orders for reassignment to Negros Occidental.

He was arrested in 2020 in connection with a drug-related case.

The case was dismissed on a technicality, and he was released from jail in 2022.

Three months ago, police began monitoring his alleged return to the illegal drug trade.

Inot said neighbors questioned how Joel could afford to run a money-lending business despite being jobless.

He allegedly sourced his drug supply through a contact he met while detained at the BJMP facility in Barangay Ungka, Jaro.

That contact is now incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison.

Joel is currently detained and faces charges for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).