DPWH employee falls in P748K drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A longtime employee of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of October 8 at City Proper district, Iloilo City.

Arwin dela Cruz, 53, a maintenance worker of the DPWH-Iloilo City Engineering District and resident of Barangay Poblacion, Carles, Iloilo, was collared at Veterans Village, Fort San Pedro in City Proper.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RPDEU-6), together with personnel from the Iloilo City Police Station 1, busted dela Cruz after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P23,000.

The suspect also yielded 28 more sachets of suspected shabu.

Lieutenant Glen Soliman, RPDEU-6 team leader, said the seized drugs weighed around 110 grams and has a standard drug price of P748,000.

Soliman said dela Cruz had no prior arrests.

The suspect started out as a user but was enticed to join the illegal drug trade to support his addiction.

“He grew his illegal business. He sells to clients in the city and province of Iloilo,” he said.

Dela Cruz allegedly got the bulk of his supply from a source in Bacolod City.

Soliman said they monitored dela Cruz’s activities following an order from Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) to look after illegal drug activities in the vicinity of PRO-6 Headquarters at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.

It was gathered that dela Cruz’s office is just a few hundred meters from where the PRO-6 headquarters is.

The suspect is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).