P150K worth of shabu, gun seized in Pavia drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Illegal drugs worth P150,000 and a firearm were confiscated in a police anti-narcotics operation in Pavia, Iloilo afternoon of July 2.

Police identified the suspect as Ronaldo Tubongbanua, 29, of Barangay Cabugao Norte, Pavia.

Members of Pavia Municipal Police Station, Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Intelligence Unit (IPPO-PIU), IPPO Special Operations Group, and PNP Drug Enforcement Group, arrested the suspect after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P30,000.

After his arrest, police seized eight more sachets of suspected shabu, a break-type 12-gauge shotgun loaded with three ammunition, and several non-drug items.

Major Dadje Delima, Pavia police chief, said the suspect is a high-value individual and has been on their watchlist of illegal drug personalities.

Tubongbanua is an alleged downline of Pavia’s top drug personality. But the latter was arrested after a search operation on his house in Pavia two months ago.

Tubongbanua admitted that he used illegal drugs to make him energetic.

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