Oton drug sting nets PHP 13.9 million shabu

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Close to PHP 14 million worth of suspected shabu was seized during a police anti-narcotics operation shortly after midnight on June 21 in Oton, Iloilo.

The operation led to the arrest of three high-value drug personalities from Iloilo City.

Arrested were alias “Jude,” 32, of Zone 1, San Juan, Molo, Iloilo City, and brothers alias “Christian,” 26, and alias “Choco,” 28, both of Zone 3, Barangay Calumpang, Molo.

Police said the suspects were arrested in a buy-bust operation at the house of Jude’s uncle at Florvel Homes in Barangay Buray, Oton.

The suspects allegedly conspired to sell three knot-tied plastic bags of suspected shabu weighing 50 grams for PHP 50,000.

Personnel of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6, together with the Police Drug Enforcement Group-Special Operations Unit 6, Regional Intelligence Division 6, and Oton Municipal Police Station, carried out the operation.

Police recovered 24 knot-tied plastic bags and 11 sachets of suspected shabu.

Capt. Glenn Soliman, RPDEU-6 deputy chief, said the seized drugs weighed about 2.055 kilograms and had a standard drug price of PHP 13,974,000.

While Jude was the target of the operation, police said Christian and Choco appeared to be the bigger catch.

Both Jude and Choco were previously incarcerated.

Jude was arrested in 2019 for murder and frustrated murder cases following an incident in San Juan, Molo.

In 2024, the cases against Jude were dismissed following a reported out-of-court settlement.

Choco, meanwhile, was arrested for a drug-related offense in 2021 and was released from jail the following year after availing himself of a plea bargain agreement.

Police said Choco and Christian’s parents and two siblings are also in jail over a drug-related case.

Soliman said Choco and Christian were likely the ones with a connection to the illegal drug source.

Police said Jude allegedly collected the shabu supply, which was concealed in grocery packs.

Although the suspects were arrested at the house of Jude’s uncle, police said the uncle appeared to have no knowledge of the alleged illegal activity.

The three suspects are detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.