Four pals nabbed in P544,000 drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Four men were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of Feb. 7 at La Paz, Iloilo.

They were identified as Rogie Argamaso, 36; Roel Reymundo, 37, and Arnel Revera, 25. All are residents of Barangay Rizal, La Paz, Iloilo City.

Police also apprehended Michael Sta. Ana, 32, of Barangay Boulevard, Molo, Iloilo City.

All suspects, except for Revera, are alleged high value individual (HVI) drug personalities.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Iloilo City Police Station 2, Iloilo City Mobile Force Company and Regional Maritime Unit (RMU) 6, nabbed the suspects after Argamaso sold a sachet of suspected drugs for P12,000.

Reymundo, Sta. Ana and Revera were caught inside the house where the buy-bust operation was conducted.

The operatives also seized 18 more sachets of suspected shabu and several non-drug items.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., ICPO-CDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 80 grams and were valued at P544,000.

The four were arrested after a month-long surveillance operation.

Benitez is not discounting the possibility that the suspects also used drugs.

They could also be allowing their clients to hold pot sessions in the said area, he added.

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