Iloilo PNP intensifies anti-drug drive; truck driver caught with P100K ‘shabu’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

A series of anti-illegal drug operations were conducted by Iloilo police units over the weekend.

The operations led to the arrest of a lady barangay captain Sunday afternoon at Dueñas, Iloilo followed by three more suspected drug personalities in Janiuay and Sta. Barbara towns a few hours later.

But the operations did not end there.

Members of Leganes Police Station and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU) arrested a truck driver in a buy-bust operation 5:30 pm Sunday at Barangay San Vicente, Leganes town.

Lieutenant Ryan Orleans, Leganes police chief, identified the suspect as Jhonar Placido, 27, of Barangay Pandan, Leon.

Placido allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu worth P8,000 to a police undercover agent.

Orleans said police operatives seized from the suspect five more sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P96,000 to P100,000.

Orleans said the suspect drove a truck used in quarry operations.

While he was not subjected to Oplan Tokhang, Placido admitted to using drugs before. He later “confessed” that he got his supply from Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City and completed his transactions via cellphone.

The suspect is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Meanwhile, Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, lauded Leganes Police Station for Placido’s arrest.

Under his leadership, the Iloilo top cop vowed to pursue the war against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality.