PHP2 Million Shabu Seized in Iloilo Drug Sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A call center agent and his brother-in-law were arrested during an anti-drug operation on the evening of May 14 in Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Police identified the suspects as alias Rowell, 33, of St. Peter Subdivision, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Arevalo, and alias Stan, 34, of Barangay Tanza-Baybay, City Proper district.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6 arrested the duo in a roadside buy-bust operation at the entrance of the subdivision.

The suspects allegedly conspired to sell a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP10,000.

Police also recovered 11 more sachets, two knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu, PHP100 in cash, a mobile phone, and various non-drug items.

Captain Glenn Soliman, RPDEU-6 team leader, said the seized shabu weighed about 250 grams with a standard drug price of PHP1.7 million.

He added that an additional 50 grams of shabu worth PHP340,000 were surrendered by Rowell’s wife, who is also Stan’s sister.

She told police her husband was keeping the drugs at their home and turned them over the same night.

Soliman said Rowell had no prior drug-related record, while Stan was arrested in a 2017 buy-bust operation.

Stan was later released after entering a plea bargaining agreement.

Soliman noted that Rowell allegedly sourced their supply from a contact at the New Bilibid Prison.

The suspects are detained and will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.