Tanod, three others fall in P1.4M drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A barangay tanod (village watchman) and three others were arrested in a police anti-illegal drugs operation early evening of Dec. 13 at Molo, Iloilo City.

The suspects were identified as tanod team leader Jenny Gonzales; Franklin Senerado; Reynaldo Porras, Jr.; and Vilma Malagad, all residents of Zone 5, Barangay Boulevard, Molo.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Iloilo City Police Stations 1 and 4 and Coast Guard District a Western Visayas (CGDWV) – Intelligence Group, arrested the suspects after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P8,000.

Two sachets of suspected shabu and a caliber .45 pistol with six pieces of ammunition were recovered from Gonzales’ possession.

The suspects also yielded 16 more sachets and a knot-tied plastic bag of suspected shabu, a pouch and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez, Jr., ICPO-CDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 210 grams and were valued at P1,428,000.

Benitez said that Gonzales, Senerado, and Porras are all considered as high value individual (HVI) drug personalities while Malagad is an alleged street level pusher.

The three suspects claimed that Gonzales acted as their leader while the leader claimed that it was actually Senerado.

Gonzales had a previous arrest for a petty crime.

On the other hand, Porras and Malagad were arrested for a drug-related offense in 2017. Both were released from incarceration four years later.

Benitez said they have been receiving reports about the three men’s alleged drug involvement.

They allegedly sourced their supply from a certain Bart.

The four suspects are now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Gonzales would also be charged for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).