P1.122-M worth of shabu seized in twin drug busts in Iloilo province

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Five persons, including three siblings, were arrested in separate anti-illegal drugs operations in Iloilo province.

The first operation netted Ar-Jay Labrador, 34, of Barangay Bachawan Sur, Concepcion, Iloilo.

Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, and 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (IPMFC), and Concepcion Municipal Police Station arrested Labrador at 6:03 p.m. Wednesday at the NHA Pabahay in Bakhawan village.

Major Harold Rendora of IPPO-PDEU said Labrador is on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) priority target list – provincial level. He was arrested after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P7,600.

Eight more sachets of suspected shabu and several non-drug items were later recovered from Labrador.

Rendora said the seized drugs weighed around 40 grams and were valued at P272,000.

Meanwhile, four persons were arrested in the drug bust operation at Barangay Poblacion South, Oton, Iloilo at around 6:45 a.m. Thursday.

Police identified the persons as Kate Nacita, 29; her brother John Nacita, 32, a beautician; and their half-brother Bonnie Nacita, 32, a tricycle driver. All are residents of Barangay Dulonan, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Also arrested was Darry Lamson, 49, a taxi driver from Gustilo Dike, La Paz, Iloilo.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6, together with the Oton Municipal Police Station, led the operation on the four persons after they allegedly connived in selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P20,500.

Recovered during the operation were 14 more sachets and two knot-tied plastic bags of suspected shabu, two mobile phones, a coin purse, a wallet, several drug paraphernalia, P1,000 cash, and various non-drug items.

Police also took into custody Lamson’s Toyota Avanza taxi.

They also rescued a female minor who was with the group when the police conducted the operation.

Captain Glenn Soliman, RPDEU-6 team leader, said the seized drugs weighed around 125 grams and were valued at P850,000.

All five suspects will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

The rescued girl, on the other hand, was turned over to Oton Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, Western Visayas police chief, attributed what he deemed as a huge success in the campaign against illegal drugs to the different police units and to the community.

“Mas napapadali na po ang pagconduct natin ng mga operations dahil sa mga magagaling at dedikado nating mga personnel at syempre po sa tulong na din ng ating mamamayan na ating taos-pusong pinasasalamatan sa pagbibigay nila ng impormasyon para sa pagpapabilis ng ating mga ginagawang hakbang tungo sa hangarin nating maging drug-free ang Western Visayas,” he said.

Villaflor also vowed that they would further take their operations against illegal drugs a notch higher.