Iloilo City couple nabbed in drug sting

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

A couple was arrested for allegedly trading illegal drugs early morning of Sept 9, 2019 at City Proper district, Iloilo City.

Charlene Gabion, 37, and her live-in partner, 25-year old Hendrix Bono, were arrested at their house in Barangay Tanza-Baybay around 6 a.m. Monday.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Station 5 seized from the suspects 11 sachets of suspected shabu with a street value of P15,000 and P1,600 marked money.

Police Major Marlon Valencia, Mandurriao police chief, said they busted Gabion and Bono outside their station’s jurisdiction following reports that the couple was trading shabu in Mandurriao district.

The transaction was supposed to take place Sunday but the suspects decided to have it the following day.

The couple, however, denied that a buy-bust operation took place.

They claimed that they were asleep when they heard a loud thud. It turned out that a police operative allegedly forcibly opened their house’s door by kicking it.

“We were sleeping when they arrived,” she said.

Gabion was released from incarceration on June 11, 2019 after a plea bargaining agreement. She was arrested in 2017 for a drug-related offense.

Gabion also claimed that the evidence against them was “planted.” She admitted to using drugs but stopped in 2016.

She said she never went into drug pushing. Last Wednesday, she even attended a probation meeting.

“Paano ako mag-involve sa drugs kay naga-attend ko rehab kag nagapa-drug test kami kada semana?” she added.

After leaving jail, Gabion said she helped her mother with the latter’s food stall.

Gabion has four children with a previous partner and another one with Bono.

Meanwhile, Bono also denied that the anti-illegal drugs operations also took place.

Someone just woke them up and arrested them around 4:00 a.m. yesterday, he claimed.

Amid the accusations, Bono said he is leaving their fate to God.

Bono is on the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) list of illegal drug personality.

But the couple claimed that the listing was done because they are at odds with their barangay officials.

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

(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)