PHP 1.76M shabu seized in twin Iloilo City drug stings

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three drug personalities were arrested in separate anti-narcotics operations in Iloilo City on Feb. 19.

Police identified the suspects only as alias Eddie, 37, of Barangay 7, San Miguel, Iloilo; alias Gil, 41, of Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao, Iloilo City; and alias Jomar, 25, of Barangay Rizal, La Paz, Iloilo City.

Eddie and Gil were arrested in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Sto. Niño Norte, Arevalo district at 6:56 p.m. Thursday.

The two allegedly conspired in selling a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP 13,000.

Operatives of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6, the Police Drug Enforcement Group-Special Operations Unit (PDEG-SOU) 6, the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 6, and Iloilo City Police Station (ICPS) 6 jointly carried out the operation.

Police recovered from the two suspects five sachets and two knot-tied plastic bags of suspected shabu, PHP 500 in cash, an improvised tooter, a disposable lighter, a mobile phone, and other non-drug items.

Maj. Marvin Villanueva, RPDEU-6 deputy chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 180 grams with a standard drug price of PHP 1,224,000.

Eddie had a previous drug-related arrest in 2016 and was released after serving three years.

Meanwhile, Jomar was arrested in a separate buy-bust operation at Barangay Compania Central, Molo district.

Police recovered from his possession 16 heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing 80 grams worth PHP 544,000.

Members of RPDEU-6 led that operation, with support from RID-6, PDEG-SOU 6, and ICPS 4.

All three suspects are under police custody and will face charges for violation of Sections 5 (Illegal Sale of Dangerous Drugs), 11 (Illegal Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and 26 (Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Drug Offenses) of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.