Notorious thieves nabbed in drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two notorious thieves have apparently turned to the illegal drug trade.

However, it didn’t take long before Marvin Dionero, 36, and Edwin Cartagena, 33, both residents of Zone 10, Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo, Iloilo City, were arrested.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Station 1, along with other police operatives, apprehended the duo in an anti-narcotics operation on the evening of July 15 at Barangay Gen. Hughes, City Proper district.

The suspects were arrested after conspiring to sell a sachet of suspected shabu for P6,500.

Upon being frisked, the suspects were found with 21 more sachets of suspected shabu and other non-drug items.

Captain Roque Gimeno, ICPS1 chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 67 grams and were valued at P455,600.

Gimeno described Dionero as a high-value individual and the main target of the operation, noting that he had a prior anti-drug related arrest.

Dionero had at least seven arrests for theft and was implicated in two murder incidents, although he managed to settle his murder cases.

Cartagena, on the other hand, had three arrests for theft and one for robbery.

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