Iloilo City ‘druggies’ move out, lay low as police pounce on suspected pushers

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Several drug personalities opted to move out of Iloilo City, as police continued to strengthen anti-narcotics operations.

Others decided to lie low while authorities continue to pounce on lairs of known drug personalities.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU) and concurrent ICPO City Intelligence Unit (CIU) chief, said they have started to see the effect of their continuous anti-illegal drug operations all over the city.

But there are still a number of watch-listed personalities who continue to test our capabilities, Benitez said.

One of them is Peter Paul Galaraga, a resident of Barangay San Antonio, Oton, Iloilo.

The 32-year-old Galaraga was arrested in a buy-bust operation at 12:50 p.m. on Feb 25, 2023 at Barangay Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Members of the ICPO-CDEU and the Iloilo City Police Station 6 nabbed the suspect after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu for P20,000.

Recovered during the operation were 10 more sachets of suspected shabu, the buy-bust money, a mobile phone, cash of P1,300, other non-drug items, and a silver Suzuki Raider 150 motorcycle.

The seized drugs weighed around 55 grams and were valued at P374,000.

Benitez, who used to head the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6, said Galaraga’s name had been on the police watchlist for years already.

But police are still checking if he was previously arrested for a similar offense.

He claimed that he’s been sourcing his supply from the city and province of Iloilo.

Galaraga also has the names of his alleged sources.

“They would be subjected for operations,” Benitez.

In the meantime, Galaraga is now detained and would be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).