P1.06 M worth of shabu seized in Lapuz drug bust

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By Jennifer P. Rendon

Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO)’s streak against illegal drugs continues.

On Saturday, July 22, a suspected drug distributor and his old lady cohort were arrested in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Loboc, Lapuz, Iloilo City.

Jonald Eguales, 33, of Zone 5, Barangay Boulevard, Molo, Iloilo City, and Jenny Joy Padesterio, 19, of Barangay Ingore, La Paz, were collared after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P8,000.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Iloilo City Police Station 2, led the bust against the duo at 2:50 a.m. Saturday, after they allegedly came from Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, which has been tagged as Iloilo City’s “drug haven.”

Following their arrest, police seized 20 more sachets of suspected shabu, a mobile phone, cash of P600, a Yamaha Mio motorcycle, and other non-drug items.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., CDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 157 grams and were valued at P1,067,600.

Benitez said the duo was arrested after a two-month surveillance operation.

Eguales used to reside in Bakhaw before relocating to Molo district. But his source is a certain Doods from Oton, Iloilo.

Eguales allegedly distributed drugs to street level pushers operating in Iloilo City.

Padesterio claimed that she went with Eguales to Bakhaw Saturday at midnight.

Eguales allegedly got “some stuff” in the area but she claimed no knowledge about it. She also denied any romantic involvement with Eguales.

Padesterio claimed she only knew the other suspect through Facebook. They started out as chatmates and became friends later on.

She claimed to have only met Eguales a few times since she used to work at a restaurant in Ajuy, a town around 80 kilometers from Iloilo City.

Padesterio added she met with Eguales Friday evening after the latter borrowed her motorcycle.

They proceeded to Barangay Loboc after their Bakhaw trip.

Padesterio said she had no idea of Eguales’ purpose in the area. She admitted using drugs before but denied she was into drug peddling.

But Benitez insisted that both Padesterio and Eguales are involved in the distribution of illegal drugs.

The woman has also been linked to another drug pusher in Iloilo City, Benitez said.

Her live-in partner was also arrested in a buy-bust operation.

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