Tanod, welder arrested in PHP 952,000 drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A village watchman and his cohort were arrested in a police anti-illegal drug operation late afternoon of May 4 in Dingle, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspects as alias “Toto,” 38, a barangay tanod, and alias “Nonoy,” 32, a welder, both residents of Barangay Tabugon, Dingle.

Toto was classified as a newly identified high-value individual, while Nonoy was categorized as a street-level pusher.

Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, together with the IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit and the Dingle Municipal Police Station, apprehended the suspects in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tabugon.

Maj. Dadje Delima, Dingle police chief, said authorities seized around 140 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of PHP 952,000.

Delima said both suspects had no previous drug-related arrests.

Toto allegedly led the drug trade, while Nonoy served as his lookout during transactions.

Delima said Toto may have started his operation last year but was placed under monitoring only three weeks ago.

The surveillance operation began after Toto allegedly escaped arrest during a buy-bust operation against an ex-convict in Barangay Tabugon on April 10.

He was able to jump out of the house of 45-year-old alias “Ron” during the operation.

During the April 10 operation, members of the IPPO-PDEU seized 165 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 1.122 million.

The suspects are detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.