Iloilo City resident falls in Barotac Viejo drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A resident of Iloilo City was arrested in a police anti-illegal drug operation afternoon of Feb 25, 2023 in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Reuben Baylon, 42, who claimed to be a resident of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Arevalo district but temporarily residing at People’s Village in Barangay Vista Alegre, Barotac Viejo, was detained for allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P16,000 in a buy-bust operation at Purok Sili, Barangay San Francisco.

Members of Barotac Viejo Municipal Police Station, together with personnel from the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6, Iloilo Police Provincial Office – Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU) Team 3 and 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, launched the operation after persistent reports on Baylon’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Police recovered 14 plastic sachets of suspected shabu including the buy-bust item and the marked money, P1,000 cash, a Euro motorcycle, and drug paraphernalia.

Major Ciriaco Esquilarga, Barotac Viejo police chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 70 grams valued at P476,000.

Esquilarga added that Baylon allegedly accepted payments via a money wallet app.

Once payment has been made, Baylon will drop the shabu at an area and take a photograph of the item. He will send the picture to his buyer with the instruction on where to pick it up.

It was gathered that Baylon was previously arrested in a buy-bust operation in 2015 and was convicted in 2019. He appealed his case and was acquitted in 2021.

The suspect is facing a fresh charge for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).