P1.462-M ‘shabu’ seized in hotel drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Six persons, including two women, were arrested in a drug sting inside a hotel in City Proper district, Iloilo City on May 31.

Police identified the suspects as Jeffrey Pamosino, 37, of Barangay Lapuz Norte, Lapuz, Iloilo City; Joel Libuna, 36, and Vincent Paul Caturas, 23, both of Block 4, Barangay Sinikway, Lapuz; Philip Esmao, 30, of Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz; Abbie Natinga, 20, of Barangay Crossing Dapuyan, San Joaquin, Iloilo; and Jenelyn dela Peña, 46, of Barangay North Baluarte, Molo, Iloilo City.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with operatives of the Iloilo City Police Station 1, nabbed the suspects for allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P15,000 inside a hotel in Barangay Hipodromo, City Proper.

Anti-drug operatives later recovered 32 more sachets of suspected shabu, two mobile phones, a weighing scale, a plastic canister, a tooter, three lighters, a bundle of empty plastic sachets; an improvised stick, and a pouch.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., CDEU chief, said that the seized drugs weighed around 215 grams and were valued at P1,462,000.

Benitez said Pamosino is their primary target but they knew that the other suspects were also present inside the hotel room.

Libuna allegedly screened the clients who could gain access to Pamosino.

Natinga and dela Peña also did the legwork for Pamosino.

“They negotiate who could be allowed to get supply from our primary target,” Benitez said.

Caturas and Esmao are both working as alleged drug distributors for Pamosino.

Police were tipped off that Pamosino and his underlings were billeted at the hotel.

The group usually checked in at the same hotel every time a supply was shipped to them.

Benitez said the suspect used to get his supply from a certain Arnold of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao.

Even if Arnold later relocated to Luzon, he still supplied illegal drugs to Pamosino.

Benitez said they’re still checking if the suspects had previous drug-related arrests.

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