Five fall in drug den sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Five persons were arrested in a police operation against an alleged drug den in Jaro, Iloilo City shortly before midnight of April 17, 2023.

Police identified the operation’s main target as John Joseph Antiqueña, 35, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Antiqueña was arrested along with Wilson Tuvilla Jr., 44; Zherden dela Cruz, 44; Vladimir Jan Tuvilla, 30; and Arman Obeso, 36. All are residents of Barangay Balabag, Anilao, IloIlo.

Their other main target, Jojo Billones of Barangay Nabitasan, Leganes, Iloilo, fled during the operation.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Station 3 transacted to buy a sachet of suspected shabu for P1,500 from the suspects.

Antiqueña and Billones allegedly agreed to meet up at a secluded area of Barangay Buhang, Jaro.

Recovered from the suspects were six more sachets of suspected shabu, several drug paraphernalia; and other non-drug items.

Captain Lester Oliveros, Jaro police chief, said they caught the four other suspects in a pot session inside a discarded container van.

The suspects appeared to be using the container vans for pot sessions and a warehouse of empty gallons.

The gallons appeared to have been used as containers for petroleum.

“So, we’re also looking into the possibility that the two suspects could also be involved in paihi or petroleum pilferage,” Oliveros said.

But he added that it’s still subject to confirmation.

Sources said that petroleum could have been siphoned from several trucks parked near the container vans and later resold to motorists.

Oliveros said the two suspects have been put under monitoring for a month before their arrest.

They are allegedly taking their supply from a source in Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao.

Antiqueña and Billones will be charged for violation of Sections 5, 6, 11, 15, and 26, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

The four other suspects will also be charged for violation of RA 9165.