P1.2 M worth of shabu seized in La Paz drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 23-year-old man was detained after a police anti-illegal drug operation afternoon of Dec 5, 2022 in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Police identified the suspect as Romulo Venta alias Toto Bruno, 23, a resident of Zone 1, Barangay Baldoza, La Paz district.

Venta was arrested after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P24,500 to a police poseur buyer.

Members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG)-Special Operations Unit-6, together with the Iloilo City Police Station 2 also recovered two knot-tied and five sachets of suspected shabu, a digital weighing scale, and other non-drug items.

The seized drugs weighed around 180 grams with standard drug price of P1,224,000.

Venta was in tears claiming that he was not into illegal drug use, much more into drug pushing.

He told reporters that the evidence gathered from him were “planted.”

He further alleged that he could not even buy a diaper for his child.

But village officials confirmed that the suspect was on their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) watchlist of illegal drug personalities.

Venta is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).