Four suspects nabbed in PHP 1.4 million drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Four persons, including two teenagers, were arrested for allegedly conspiring to sell illegal drugs in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, on the evening of Nov. 20.

Police identified the suspects as alias Gil, 42; his neighbor, alias Jan, 37; and his nephews, John, 19, and Arnel, 17, all residents of Barangay Acuit in Barotac Nuevo.

The suspects, who all work as mechanics, were arrested in a buy-bust operation at Gil’s motorcycle repair shop in Acuit village.

Operatives of the Barotac Nuevo Municipal Police Station recovered 15 sachets and two knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu, a homemade M14 rifle with three cartridges, two weighing scales, and other drug paraphernalia.

Captain Jersey Besas, Barotac Nuevo police chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 220 grams with a standard drug price of PHP 1,496,000.

Besas said all four suspects have no previous drug-related arrests.

However, Gil was previously charged with frustrated homicide in Molo, Iloilo City, and was out on bail.

The suspects were arrested following a two-month monitoring operation.

They allegedly sourced their drug supply in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Gil and Jan allegedly instructed the two younger suspects to escort customers to their meeting place.

The three adult suspects are now detained, while the minor is in the custody of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

They will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.