Nearly PHP1M Shabu Seized in Twin Iloilo Busts

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Nearly PHP1 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in two separate anti-drug operations in Iloilo province, leading to the arrest of five suspects.

Members of the Leganes Municipal Police Station arrested alias Nazareth, 44, of Confessor St., Barangay Poblacion, Leganes, and his live-in partner, alias Merlyn, 37, of Barangay Tabuc Suba, La Paz, Iloilo City, at Nazareth’s home at around 11:25 p.m. on March 12.

The suspects were apprehended in a buy-bust operation after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP2,100.

Eight more sachets of suspected shabu and several non-drug items were recovered from their possession.

Captain General Enrique Robles, Leganes police chief, said the confiscated drugs weighed around 20 grams, with an estimated street value of PHP136,000.

Meanwhile, members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office – Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU) Team 2, along with personnel from the IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, PDEU Team 1, and Pototan Municipal Police Station, arrested three other suspects at Barangay Cato-ogan, Pototan, at around 1:13 a.m. on March 13.

The suspects were identified as alias Jonito, 33, of Cato-ogan; alias Rico, 26, of Barangay Tumcon Ilaud, Pototan; and Florentino, 38, of Barangay Polot-an, Pototan.

Authorities confiscated around 125 grams of shabu from the trio, valued at PHP850,000.

All five suspects are now detained and will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.