Fireman, four others fall in drug sting

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

A MEMBER of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and four others were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation in Jaro, Iloilo City late afternoon of July 16, 2019.

Fire Office 1 (FO1) Wendell Garcera, 36, a resident of Barangay Bo. Obrero, Lapuz district, allegedly connived with the four suspects in selling a sachet of suspected shabu to a confidential asset and a police poseur-buyer.

Members of the PNP Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RDEU-6) and Jaro Police Station also collared Garcera’s older brother Wilhelm, 44, of Barangay Jereos, La Paz; Aileen Talero, 52, of Zone 3, Bo. Obrero village; and newlyweds Garry, 33, and Malyn Benedicto, 27, of Barangay Democracia, Jaro.

An RDEU team leader said they transacted to buy drugs from Wilhelm and agreed to meet in Jaro district.

When Wilhelm arrived at the meeting place, the asset and the RDEU poseur-buyer said they would buy P7,000 worth of shabu.

But Wilhelm claimed he did not have the required volume of drugs. He then called up his brother, FO1 Garcera, who immediately arrived in the area.

Garcera then brought them to Talero, who acted as the group’s runner.

Since Talero knew the asset, she contacted Garry and accompanied them to the couple’s house.

Malyn allegedly handed the sachet of shabu.

After their arrest, the suspects yielded 26 sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P79,500 and the P7,000 marked.

The RDEU team leader said all suspects are newly-identified drug personalities.

While Wilhelm was the target, Garry appears to be the main peddler of illegal drugs

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