Eight arrested in PHP 3.3 million Estancia drug sting

ILOILO CITY — Eight individuals, including two women, were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation on the afternoon of Sept. 29 in Estancia, Iloilo.

Police identified the two high-value drug suspects as alias “Tate,” 40, and alias “Joshua,” 26, a tricycle driver, both residents of Barangay Botongon, Estancia, Iloilo.

Police also arrested alleged street-level pushers alias “Nene,” 34, of Barangay Botongon, Estancia; alias “Cora,” 44, of Barangay Bolaqueña, Estancia; alias “Billy,” 21, of Barangay Poblacion, Carles; alias “Melvin,” 48, of Barangay Pa-on, Estancia; alias “Teddy,” 26, of Barangay Tacbuyan, Estancia; and alias “Percy,” 42, of Barangay Poblacion Zone 2, Estancia.

Reports said the six alleged street-level pushers were caught while getting their drug supply from the two high-value drug suspects.

Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, together with the IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, Regional Intelligence Division, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 and Estancia Municipal Police Station, carried out the buy-bust operation in Barangay Botongon at around 2:10 p.m. Tuesday.

The two primary targets allegedly conspired to sell a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP 13,000.

After their arrest, police operatives recovered eight more sachets of suspected shabu and several non-drug items.

A homemade 9mm revolver loaded with three rounds of ammunition was also seized from Tate’s possession.

Police Maj. Dadje Delima, IPPO-PDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 495 grams and had an estimated value of PHP 3,366,000.

The operation was launched following five months of surveillance, intelligence monitoring, target validation and information development on the illegal drug trade in Iloilo’s 5th District.

Delima said he believes the arrests and confiscation of a large volume of shabu will disrupt the distribution of illegal drugs in Iloilo’s 5th District and parts of Capiz province.

Police said further intelligence exploitation involving the arrested suspects and recovered evidence is ongoing to identify possible suppliers, associates and distribution networks for subsequent intelligence-driven law enforcement operations.

Of the eight suspects, Melvin was the only one reported to have a previous drug-related arrest.

He was arrested in 2016 but was released from incarceration in 2019 following a plea-bargaining agreement.

The suspects are detained and will face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Tate will also face a charge for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.