P8.16-M ‘shabu’ seized from 68-year-old woman, pal

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 68-year-old woman from Quezon City and her 27-year-old companion were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of March 27 in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Estrelita Bueno, a widow from Abbey Road, Bagbag Sauyo, Novaliches, Quezon City was arrested shortly after she disembarked from a Ro-Ro bus from Metro Manila.

She was collared along with Noe Llagas Jr., 27, of Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Bueno, who’s been on the police’s regional target list, is an alleged drug courier while Llagas is a “distributor.”

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-6 worked together with the personnel of the Iloilo City Police Station 3, Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 6, the PNP Intelligence Group, the 2nd Aklan Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Aklan Provincial Intelligence Team, in nailing down the suspects.

The two were arrested after handing a sachet of suspected shabu for P72,000 while at Zone 6, Barangay Buhang, Jaro.

Major Rommel Anicete, RPDEU-6 chief, said their main target was Bueno but she had to course the transaction through Llagas.

“Hindi naman kami maka-rekta kay Bueno without using a local contact,” he said.

Police had monitored that a woman was carrying more than a kilo of shabu when she boarded a Ro-Ro bus from Cubao, Quezon City.

When she reached the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan, a spotter was employed to tail her until she reached Iloilo City.

“We initially transacted with Llagas but since his supply was not enough, he referred us to Bueno who just arrived from Metro Manila,” Anicete said.

Police had hit the “jackpot” after Bueno was caught carrying with her around 1.2 kilos of suspected shabu.

Anicete said the seized drugs have a standard drug price worth P8,160,000.

Aside from several plastic bags of shabu, the suspects also yielded mobile phones and a motorcycle.

It was gathered that Bueno had been on police monitoring for six months already.

“She was allegedly tasked by a supplier to deliver the shabu by commuting on a Ro-Ro bus,” Anicete said.

Both had no previous drug-related arrest but Bueno claimed she was involved in some theft cases.

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