Six fall in drug den raid; P394K of shabu seized

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A father and his son and their four “clients” were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation on a suspected drug den in Jaro, Iloilo City late afternoon of May 15.

The subject of the bust was Jerodion Jinon, 43, and his son, 22-year-old Jaymar Jinon who reside at Zone 1, Sitio Sapa, Barangay Balantang.

Jerodion is a regional priority high-value individual (HVI) and was the main target of the operation.

Also arrested were the Jinons’ “customers” Greg Emmanuel Antonio, 45, and Joselito Alde, 48, also of Barangay Balantang; Jonathan Elisan, 47, of Zone 1, Barangay Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo; and Jenefer Estacion, 47, of Barangay Pueblo, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Jerodion and Jaymar allegedly conspired in selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P10,000.

Following the duo’s arrest, members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6 and the Iloilo City Police Station 3 discovered a shanty in the Jinons’ backyard where the four other persons were caught in the middle of a “pot session.”

Recovered from the four were 28 more sachets of suspected shabu, a mobile phone, and several non-drug items.

Captain Glenn Soliman, RPDEU-6 team leader, said the seized drugs weighed around 58 grams and were valued at P394,400.

It was gathered that the Jinons resided in a strategic area around 900 meters from the main road.

“You can go there by taking a footwalk. If you use a motorcycle, they would be readily alerted. That’s why, it took a lot of planning before they were finally collared,” Soliman said.

Had the police arrived earlier, there may have been more individuals caught in the pot session. But some of them have left already when the cops arrived.

Police said all suspects had no prior arrests for any offense.

But Jerodion’s brother was nabbed a few months ago in La Paz district.

“They could have established a link through him,” Soliman said.

All six suspects underwent drug tests. Except for Jaymar, all were found positive for illegal drug use.

Jerodion and Jaymar will be charged for violation of Section 5 in relation to Section 26, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

On the other hand, the four suspects would be charged for visiting a drug den and illegal drug use under RA 9165.