San Miguel drug sting nets PHP 1.1M shabu

By Jennifer P. Rendon

More than PHP 1 million worth of illegal drugs was seized in a police anti-narcotics operation in San Miguel, Iloilo, on the evening of April 28.

Police arrested a 30-year-old man identified only as alias “Emman,” while his companion, alias “Kalbo,” evaded arrest.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 conducted the operation against the two targets at Emman’s house in Barangay 15, San Miguel.

Capt. Glenn Soliman, RPDEU-6 team leader, said the house also served as a drug den for their clients.

The suspects allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP 13,000.

As police were about to arrest the pair, Kalbo allegedly ran toward the back portion of Emman’s house.

Soliman said the area was poorly lit and inhabited by the suspects’ relatives.

Kalbo reportedly lives just a few hundred meters from Emman’s house.

Following Emman’s arrest, police seized three more sachets and three knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu.

Soliman said the seized drugs weighed around 170 grams and had a standard drug price of PHP 1,156,000.

Police said the operation followed three weeks of surveillance.

The suspects allegedly sourced their supply from a distributor based in Iloilo City.

Emman is detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Police said they are pursuing Kalbo.

POTOTAN DRUG BUST

Meanwhile, joint operatives of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office arrested a high-value individual in an anti-illegal drug operation April 25 in Barangay Naslo, Pototan, Iloilo.

The operation was conducted at around 5:15 p.m., police said.

The suspect was identified only as alias “Negro,” 33, a tricycle driver and resident of the barangay.

Operatives of the Iloilo Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit Team 2, in coordination with the Pototan Municipal Police Station and the Provincial Intelligence Unit, carried out the buy-bust operation.

Police said the operation resulted in the confiscation of approximately 180 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP 1,224,000.

Recovered from the suspect were five heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu, buy-bust money, and other non-drug items.

The suspect is under police custody.

Police said the suspect will face charges for violation of Section 5, or sale of dangerous drugs, and Section 11, or possession of dangerous drugs, of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Under the law, the illegal sale of dangerous drugs is punishable by life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from PHP 500,000 to PHP 10 million, although the death penalty is no longer imposed in the Philippines.