Ex-con, pal fall in Pototan drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A convicted felon and his friend were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of Nov 7, 2022 in Pototan, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspects as Cicero Kapunan, 46, of Barangay Lagubang, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo and Mark Daniel Bolivar, 27, of Barangay Poblacion Ilaud, Barotac Nuevo.

Members of the Pototan Municipal Police Station, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU, the Badiangan Municipal Police Station, the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 (RFMB-6) collared the duo in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Tuburan, Pototan.

Recovered from the suspects were four plastic sachets of suspected shabu with a standard drug price value of P115,600.

Major Roy Tayona, Pototan police chief, said Kapunan was the target of the operation.

A few weeks ago, he was monitored to be involved in the illegal drug trade in Pototan.

Kapunan had previous drug-related arrests.

In years 2014 and 2015, he was arrested for visiting a drug den.

But Tayona said he is not aware of the disposition of the two cases.

In 2016, Kapunan was arrested during a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-led buy-bust operation.

Three years later, he was released from jail after availing of the plea-bargaining agreement.

It was gathered that Kapunan has been taking his supply from a source in Roxas City, Capiz.

Kapunan and Bolivar are now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).