Three druggies arrested in PHP 1M drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three friends were arrested after they allegedly connived in selling illegal drugs on the afternoon of Feb. 17.

Alias Nonoy, 29, of Zone 5, Barangay Poblacion, Badiangan, Iloilo; alias Tonggay, 26, of Barangay Santa Rita, Janiuay, Iloilo; and alias Davey, 37, of Barangay Desamparados, Jaro, were apprehended in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Lopez Jaena, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 6, ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and Iloilo City Police Station 9, collared the suspects after one sold a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP 8,000.

Police operatives also yielded seven more sachets and two knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu and several non-drug items.

Capt. Roque Gimeno III, ICPO-CDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 150 grams with a standard drug price of PHP 1,020,000.

Gimeno said the operation was conducted at the house of Nonoy’s uncle, which had been entrusted to him to look after.

He apparently converted it into a drug den.

Gimeno said they conducted almost a month of monitoring before launching the operation against the suspects.

Both Nonoy and Tonggay had no previous drug-related arrests.

Gimeno said he led a team that apprehended Davey in 2023.

But since he was caught in possession of illegal drugs, he managed to post bail.

It was gathered that Davey had been sourcing their supply from another drug personality based in Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The suspects are now detained and will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.