Foreman, five workers nabbed in PHP 1.3-million drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A foreman and five construction workers were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation on the afternoon of September 17 in Molo, Iloilo City.

Greg Sucgang, 28, a foreman from Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala, City Proper, Iloilo City, and Mark Anthony Cetin, 36, of Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, were apprehended at their workplace in Zone 4, Barangay North Baluarte, Molo.

Also arrested were Cristoto Balagwis, 32, of Barangay Crossing, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental; Miguel Abelar, 35, of Barangay Granada, Bacolod City; Jerry Lerio, 44, of Barangay Saguday, Quezon Province; and Andres Labiste, 34, of Barangay Cabugao Norte, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office – City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), along with personnel from the Iloilo City Police Station 4, the ICPO City Intelligence Unit, the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, and the Maritime Police Station, arrested the six suspects in a buy-bust operation targeting Sucgang and Cetin.

The two were allegedly caught selling a sachet of suspected shabu worth PHP 7,000. Following their arrest, authorities recovered eight additional sachets, two knot-tied plastic bags of shabu, and various non-drug items.

Captain Ryan Christ Inot, ICPO-CDEU team leader, said the seized drugs weighed approximately 195 grams, with an estimated value of PHP 1,326,000.

Except for Sucgang, the five other suspects were caught in the middle of a pot session.

Although Sucgang had no prior drug-related arrests, he had been on the police radar for some time.

“He’s been involved in illegal drugs for quite a while, but he was difficult to locate,” Inot said.

Sucgang allegedly employed Cetin to transport his drug supply from Bacolod City. Both, being involved in construction work, reportedly targeted fellow construction workers as their main customers.

“Their clients could buy drugs on credit, with payments deducted from their wages every Saturday,” Inot explained.

The two suspects were also known to deal drugs at the Iloilo Fish Port Complex.

Sucgang and Cetin will face charges for violating Sections 5 and 11 of Article II under Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The other four suspects will be charged with a lesser offense under the same law.