Pals nabbed with ‘shabu’,  knife in Oplan Bakal-Sita

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Two persons were arrested after they were accidentally caught with suspected shabu and a knife during an Oplan Bakal and Oplan Sita operations early morning of December 14 at City Proper, Iloilo City.

Police identified the suspects as Alvin Sarsowa, 32, and John Alcain, 41, both residents of Barangay Zamora-Melliza, City Proper district.

Personnel from the Iloilo City Police Station 1 and the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO)’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) were patrolling the street of Mapa when they spotted the two walking aimlessly at 2:10 a.m.

Major Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPS1 chief, said the duo started to rattle when they saw the police.

“Because they acted uneasy, they were asked by our policemen some basic questions,” she said.

Later on, they were asked to be subjected for Oplan Bakal and Oplan Sita by making them raise their shirts.

“Our policemen noticed something building from Sarsowa’s crouch,” he said.

When he was asked to take the pouch and open it, police saw a sachet of suspected shabu among other things.

Alcain also yielded a folding knife.

Sangrines said Sarsowa has been arrested for an illegal drugs offense several years ago. He was released from jail after availing of the plea bargaining agreement.

His brother was also arrested during a drug buy bust operation several months back.

Sangrines said the two suspects would be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and City Ordinance No. 138.