House painter nabbed anew for drug peddling

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Fresh from his jail stint, a house painter is back in the slammer following a police anti-narcotics operation evening of May 24 in Mandurriao, Iloilo.

Joewen Lo, 26, was arrested at his place at Barangay Hibaoan Sur, Mandurriao, Iloilo City around 8:35 p.m. on Wednesday.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Station 5, together with operatives from the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU) collared the suspect after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P7,000.

When frisked, five more sachets were recovered from his possession,

Captain Van Alan Cambel, ICPS5 chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 15 grams of shabu with a standard drug price worth P102,000.

Lo was first arrested for a drug-related offense in October 2022.

He told police operatives that he got out of jail in March 2023 after availing of the plea bargaining agreement.

But it didn’t take long before he was again monitored to have returned to the illegal drug trade.

“He was the one offering the supply to clients. That’s why he again became known for illegal drug pushing in their barangay,” Cambel said.

The suspect was placed under surveillance for two weeks before his arrest.

Lo will be charged for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).