P604K worth of shabu seized in  twin drug raids vs brothers-in-law

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

After skirting arrests for years, a suspected drug peddler and his brother-in-law were collared in separate drug police operations in Iloilo province morning of April 24, 2023.

Police finally netted Neil Solen, 36, of Barangay Cabugao Norte, Pavia, Iloilo, and Rey Lamera, 40, of Barangay Cabugao Norte, Sta. Barbara.

Members of the Sta. Barbara Municipal Police Station, Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Coast Guard Intelligence Group Western Visayas swooped on Lamera’s house around 5:30 a.m. of Monday.

The search and seizure operation was conducted by virtue of Search Warrant No. 05-2023 issued by acting Executive Judge Rose Edith G. Togonon of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 25 in Iloilo City.

Recovered from Lamera were 25 plastic sachets of suspected shabu and illegal drug paraphernalia.

Major Harold Rendora, IPPO-PDEU chief, said the seized drugs were valued at P204,000.

An hour later, members of Pavia MPS and IPPO PDEU raided Solen’s house.

Police recovered 10 plastic sachets of suspected shabu, illegal drug paraphernalia, a fragmentation hand grenade (corroded), and a homemade 12-gauge shotgun.

The seized drugs were worth P400,000.

Major Dadje Delima, Pavia police chief, said that Solen is a “slippery subject.”

“He’s been into the drug trade for around nine years already. He doesn’t do the actual trade. He has his own runner who does the peddling,” Delima said.

This prompted the police to apply for a search warrant on the suspect.

While Solen had no previous arrest, his brother-in-law was already arrested in 2014.

Lamera was released from incarceration in 2020 after availing of the plea bargaining agreement.

Police also learned that Lamera has a standing arrest warrant for double murder.

Rendora claimed that the suspect used to be a member of the Totong Magno Gang, a group that was also into gun-for-hire.

But the gang was already dismantled a few years back.

Rendora said the two apparently sourced their illegal drugs from the same supplier.

Solen and Lamera will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Lamera will further be charged for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and RA 9561 or illegal possession of explosives.