Duo nabbed with P800K worth of shabu

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

TWO persons were arrested for possessing more or less P800,000 worth of suspected shabu in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of Aug 16, 2019 in Pavia, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspects as Edwin Balinas, 46, of Zone 4, Poblacion, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, and John Rey Napat, 35, of Barangay Solido, Nabas, Aklan.

Both are renting a house at Phase 1, Deca Homes 3 in Barangay Hibao-an.

Members of the PNP Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) sought the duo to buy a sachet of shabu worth P12,500.

After their arrest, they yielded 17 more sachets of suspected shabu weighing 80 grams valued at P800,000.

Police Major Niño Leonard Amar, Pavia police chief, said the suspects claimed they were just renting the place for less than a month.

Since the suspects are not from Pavia, Amar said they are not on the town’s drugs watch list.

He said they have been having problems in profiling drug personalities who are temporarily staying in several subdivisions in Pavia.

“A good number of those residing in subdivisions are not registered residents here,” he said.

Some subdivisions also barred policemen from entering exclusive villages for intelligence monitoring.

Meanwhile, Balinas and Napat are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).