Three nabbed in PHP 918,000 Iloilo drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three persons were arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation in Dingle, Iloilo on the afternoon of Oct. 1.

Police identified the suspects as alias Dondon, 43, of Barangay Malusgod, Pototan; alias Inos, 52, of Barangay Pandan, Dingle; and alias Arvie, 41, of Barangay Poblacion Ilaya, San Enrique.

Dondon was the main target of the operation spearheaded by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office–Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit.

Inos and Arvie, both classified as street-level pushers, were his alleged cohorts.

The suspects were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pandan.

Maj. Dadje Delima, IPPO-PDEU chief, said 135 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 918,000 were seized from the suspects.

The operation stemmed from information provided by concerned citizens about the suspects’ alleged illegal drug activities.

After nearly two months of validation and monitoring, operatives confirmed the reports and launched the operation.

The suspects reportedly sourced their drugs from Iloilo City and distributed them in parts of the third and fourth districts of Iloilo.

They are detained and will be charged with violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Shabu, or methamphetamine hydrochloride, is the most commonly seized illegal drug in the Philippines and carries severe penalties under RA 9165.

Two anti-illegal drug operations were also conducted in Dingle last August.

Three persons were arrested on the late afternoon of Aug. 30 in Barangay Ilajas and yielded approximately 250 grams of illegal drugs with a standard drug price of PHP 1,700,000.

On Aug. 23, five persons were collared in Barangay Tinocuan with 740 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 5,032,000.