Slick robber slips through dragnet during drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

He’s known by the monikers “Tiyanak” and “Aswang” for a reason.

Jovel Jereso, a resident of Barangay Tanza Timawa II, City Proper, Iloilo City, slipped through a dragnet by police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives.

Slithering and jumping off from one tomb to the other, Jereso evaded arrest during an anti-narcotics operation 3:15 p.m. of August 18 inside the Tanza Cemetery at Barangay Tanza Timawa II.

PDEA-6 led the operation along with members of the Iloilo City Police Station 1.

The transaction was consummated with Jereso trading a sachet of suspected shabu for money with an undercover agent.

When he was about to be arrested, Jereso showed to anti-drug operatives his running and jumping skills as he made his way out of the cemetery he knew so well.

Both units sent one team to carry out the operations against Jereso, who has been on PDEA’s top priority list.

Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPS 1 chief, said she sent one team after it was reported that Jereso evaded arrest.

The team scoured the area and its vicinity to look for the suspect until around 8 pm.

But Jereso has once again proved true to his monikers Aswang and Tiyanak.

Aswang and Tiyanak are shape-shifting creatures in Philippine mythology that are known to elude and disappear when chased by a mob.

Authorities were left with the sachet of suspected shabu that Jereso sold, a 12-inch knife, and a pair of slippers.

The shabu was pegged to have a street value of P20,400.

Sangrines said charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) would still be filed against the suspect.

It was gathered that police dubbed the suspect as a notorious robber. He usually stays in one position for hours inside his target house and strike at night when the owners are asleep.

Jereso is said to run very fast even with both hands in cuffs.

Meanwhile, three laborers were arrested after they allegedly dabbled in illegal drugs.

The suspects were identified as Jomuad Lozada, 35; Alvin Segocio, 23; and Bonie Rey Albino, 36. All are residents of Barangay Man-it, Sitio Mapilit, Passi City, Iloilo.

Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Pamonag, Passi City police chief, said the drug bust was conducted 11:10 p.m. of August 18, 2021 at the trio’s place.

Lozada was the target of the operation. His companions appeared to be his runners. He allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for P1,000.

When frisked, Lozada yielded another sachet of suspected shabu, the P1,000 marked money, a lighter, two mobile phones, and P8,510 cash.

Pamonag said that Lozada is an alleged street level individual (SLI) target personality.

Up until Wednesday, Lozada and his two friends were never arrested for any offense.