Iloilo drug suspect falls in PHP 1.7M bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A newly identified drug personality was arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation late morning on June 9 in Pototan, Iloilo.

Alias Onyok, 45, was arrested following a buy-bust operation at his home in Barangay Rumbang, Pototan.

Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, together with the IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, the Regional Special Operations Group, and the Pototan Municipal Police Station, apprehended the suspect after he allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP 13,500.

When frisked, the suspect yielded five more sachets of suspected shabu and several non-drug items.

Maj. Dadje Delima, IPPO-PDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 250 grams and had an estimated value of PHP 1,700,000.

Delima said the suspect had no prior drug-related or other criminal arrest.

He was placed under monitoring after a tipster informed a PDEU operative of his alleged illegal drug involvement.

A surveillance operation was conducted for three weeks before his arrest.

Onyok is detained while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against him.

Republic Act 9165 penalizes the sale, possession, and distribution of illegal drugs in the country.