Duo nabbed in P1.7-M drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two suspected drug personalities were collared in a police anti-narcotics operation evening of Jan. 15 at City Proper, Iloilo City.

Ernesto Guevara, Jr., 43, of Barangay Rizal Pala Pala 2, City Proper and Ryan Bordon, 36, of Barangay Tanza Bonifacio, City Proper, were the subject of the buy bust operation in Barangay Kauswagan at 9:15 p.m.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Iloilo City Police Stations 1 and 4, the Iloilo City Mobile Force Company, and the Regional Maritime Unit, 6, seized 23 sachets of suspected shabu and illegal drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., CDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 250 grams and were valued at P1,700,000.

The suspects allegedly covered the whole of Iloilo City as their area of operation.

Based on police reports, Guevara allegedly started out as a thief. In fact, he was charged thrice for theft and was also accused of a drug-related offense.

On the other hand, Bordon has been kicked out by his sibling from their home after getting involved with illegal drug activities.

He was even called to appear before the barangay lupon or local peace and order council.

Later on, he decided to leave the village and temporarily stayed at the nearby Barangay Rizal Estanzuela.

But other than that, he has no records of misdemeanors in the barangay.

Colonel Joeresty Coronica, Iloilo City police chief, has earlier said that the ICPO would intensify its crackdown against illegal drugs in the advent of the Dinagyang Festival celebration.

In the past weeks, several high-value operations were conducted leading to the confiscation of a big volume of illegal drugs.

Coronica also vowed that the ICPO will not let up its campaign against illegal drugs.