P1.326-M of shabu seized in another Iloilo City drug bust

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By Jennifer P. Rendon

As promised, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has delivered another accomplishment in its anti-illegal drug campaign days leading to the series of activities for the Dinagyang Festival 2024.

The latest drug operation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Angelo Gimenez at Blumentritt Street, Barangay Muelle Loney, City Proper district around 8:15 p.m. on Jan. 16.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Station (ICPS) 1, together with the ICPO City Drug Enforcement Unit, arrested the suspect after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P9,000.

When he was frisked, police seized a knot-tied plastic bag and eight more sachets of suspected shabu.

The seized drugs weighed around 95 grams with a standard drug price value of P646,000.

After the buy-bust operation, police implemented a search on Gimenez’s house through Search Warrant No. 39-01-2024 issued by Judge Victorino Maniba of the Regional Trial Court Branch 39, Iloilo City.

They recovered two more knot-tied plastic bags containing 100 grams of suspected shabu valued at P680,000 and a caliber .38 revolver.

Captain Roque Gimeno III, ICPS1 chief, said the suspect’s name is on the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) list of illegal drug personalities.

He used to work as an e-bike driver.

Had he not been arrested, the suspect was scheduled for an interview as a ‘promodiser’ on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

Gimenez used to source his supply from a drug personality in Iloilo City but later directly transacted with the main distributor after his local supplier was also arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 6.

Gimeno said the suspect has no previous drug-related arrest.

But last year, he was arrested after his wife filed a case against him for violation of Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004).

He was also accused of direct assault.

Gimeno said the suspect was released on bail.

Gimenez is now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).