P1.22M worth of drugs seized yet again

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Four persons were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of August 12 in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Police identified the operation’s main targets as John Kennard Dejeron, 23, and Eriberto Atadero Jr., 50, both residents of Barangay Desamparados, Jaro.

Also arrested were Dejeron’s live-in partner, 22-year-old Jalin Lim, and their neighbor, 44-year-old Jo Annalyn dela Cruz.

The suspects allegedly confederated to sell two sachets of suspected shabu for P25,000 to a police poseur buyer.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Iloilo City Police Station 3 and the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, later seized five more sachets of suspected shabu from the suspects.

They also yielded a mobile phone, two weighing scales, P600 cash, four plastic sachets with suspected shabu residue, drug paraphernalia, and other non-drug items.

Captain Roque Gimeno III, ICPO-CDEU team leader, said the seized drugs were valued at P1,220,000.

Both Dejeron and Atadero were previously arrested for drug-related charges.

Gimeno said they’re still checking on Dejeron’s records while Atadero was arrested on June 10, 2017 and was released through a plea bargaining agreement on April 12, 2022.

The duo also sourced their supply from alias Nognog, who is now Iloilo City’s alleged top most drug priority target.

Nognog was also the upline of another ex-convict, Geovany Gozon, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation on August 9 at Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao.

Gozon yielded around P1.02 million worth of shabu.

In Saturday’s operation, police said the group’s supply just arrived.

That’s why dela Cruz was at Dejeron’s house to get her share for distribution.

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