Over P2M worth of drugs seized in busts

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Glazyl Y. Masculino

More than P2 million worth of suspected illegal drugs were confiscated in various anti-narcotics operations in the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo and Negros Occidental province over the weekend.

Two siblings were facing illegal drug charges after they were arrested in a police narcotics operation on Nov 25 in Molo, Iloilo City.

Girlie Macarse, 31, and her old older, Noel Macarse, 33, both residents of Barangay M.H. del Pilar, Jaro, Iloilo City, were charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) before the Iloilo City Prosecutors’ Office.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) and the Iloilo City Police Station 4 collared the duo in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Salvacion Habog-Habog, Molo.

Recovered from the suspects were 19 plastic sachets of suspected shabu, illegal drug paraphernalia, and the buy-bust money.

Lieutenant Glenn Soliman, RPDEU team leader, said the seized drugs were valued at P1,258,000.

Soliman said both suspects are considered “high-value individuals.”

But Girlie was the one orchestrating the drug trade while her brother Noel did the leg work.

In 2014, Girlie was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Dumangas, Iloilo.
She was released from jail in 2019 after a plea-bargaining agreement.

Soliman said the suspects were in possession of a big volume of illegal drugs, as they were in a haste to dispose of it.
Girlie was laying low following the arrest of her live-in partner in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Bitoon, Jaro, Iloilo City a week ago.

It was believed that they were able to sell 300 grams of the drug stash they got in a week.

Meanwhile, an estimated P1,380,400 worth of suspected shabu were seized from five persons, including a casual government employee in separate anti-illegal drug operations here and in Negros Occidental last Friday and Saturday.

The biggest drug haul was reported in Manapla town on Nov. 26, wherein Steve Silava, 36, of Barangay 1A, a casual employee, was arrested in a buy-bust operation for the confiscation of 155 grams of suspected shabu worth P1,054,000.

Police Captain Gerald Muya, head of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), said that Silava has been monitored by police since 2021.

Muya said that Silava was arrested for a drug offense in 2017, and was released three years later through plea-bargaining.

The operation was led by the Special Operations Unit (SOU)-6 of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), along with the PDEU.

Muya said that Silava can be considered a high-value individual.

Also recovered from him were the P21,000 boodle money and P250.

In Silay City, Delvie Rodrigues, 46, of Barangay Guinhalaran was arrested after police raided his house in the said village last Friday, through a search warrant.

Police recovered 28 grams of suspected shabu worth P190,400, two improvised tooters, five lighters, 25 empty shells of .45 caliber ammunition, and P16,000 cash.

In Bacolod, a mother and her two sons were arrested after they allegedly yielded 20 grams of suspected shabu worth P136,000 in a buy-bust operation at Purok Sigay, Barangay 2 here last Friday.

Police identified the subject as Memar Diopeta, 53, of Barangay 2, a sari-sari store owner, and her twin sons, Wowie and Wendyl, both 27 years old.

Police Captain Paul Vincent Pendon, head of Police Station 2, said Diopeta was arrested for a drug offense in 2016 and was released from jail two years later.

Pendon said they’ve been monitoring Diopeta for a week.

Pendon said that Diopeta’s sons allegedly conspire with her in the illegal drug trade.

Also confiscated from them were P400, and the P500 marked money.