Nine caught in drug den bust at Jaro market

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Nine persons were arrested after a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of Dec. 5 at a market in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Police collared Josias Amilo, Carlos Bitonga, and Christian Labordo, who are all tagged as alleged high value individual (HVI) drug personalities by the police.

Also collared were Raymond Paguntalan, Kerwin Degron, Eduardo Villosa, Francis Hibionada, Davey Obapial, and Ronald Paterno Jr. They are considered street level drug personalities.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and Iloilo City Police Stations 1 and 4 led the operation that busted Amilo for allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P15,000.

Police also recovered three plastic sachets and two knot-tied plastic of suspected shabu and several non-drug items.

Benitez said the drugs seized weighed around 120 grams and were valued at P816,000.

The suspects were caught in a market stall covered with curtains at Barangay Desamparados, Jaro.

The stall sold food stuff and ingredients.

Some of the suspects were either buyers, users, or both.

“The market stall was just a front. Customers go there to transact illegal drugs,” Benitez said.

It was gathered that five of the nine suspects had previous drug-related arrests.

The suspects now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).