Tanod nabbed in Iloilo City drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A barangay tanod (village watchman) was arrested during a police anti-illegal drug operation on the evening of Oct. 16 in Arevalo, Iloilo City.

The suspect, alias Amay, 51, a resident of Barangay Jalandoni-Wilson, City Proper, was arrested in a buy-bust operation along C1 Road in Barangay San Jose, Arevalo.

Police said Amay, who appeared distraught but shed no tears during his arrest, was caught selling a sachet of suspected shabu worth PHP 7,000.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office–City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Unit, Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group, and Iloilo City Police Station 6, conducted the operation.

Authorities recovered nine more sachets of suspected shabu during a frisk search following the initial sale.

Captain Roque Gimeno, ICPO-CDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed approximately 25 grams with a total standard drug value of PHP 170,000.

Amay was arrested after two weeks of surveillance, monitoring, and validation.

Gimeno said the suspect would usually meet buyers in front of a church near his area.

“Sometimes, he delivers using a bicycle or he will ride a tricycle to do away with any pattern,” Gimeno said.

He added that Amay served as a drug runner for several pushers operating in Iloilo City.

Gimeno also noted that many of Amay’s buyers were pedicab and tricycle drivers.

Amay is now in police custody and will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.