Three Women Arrested With PHP1.7M Worth of ‘Shabu’ in Iloilo City Motel Bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three women were arrested during a police anti-narcotics operation in Iloilo City on the evening of October 10.

The suspects were identified as Myka Torpio, 21, of Barangay South San Jose, Molo, Iloilo City; Marian Angel Perez, 22, of Barangay Caingin, La Paz, Iloilo City; and Emee Maglayon, 45, of Barangay Gustilo, La Paz. They were apprehended during a buy-bust operation at a motel in Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo district.

Torpio, the primary target of the operation, allegedly conspired with Perez and Maglayon in selling a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP12,000.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office – City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), along with officers from Iloilo City Police Station 6, recovered three knot-tied bags and six plastic sachets of suspected shabu, as well as several non-drug items.

Captain Ryan Christ Inot, CDEU team leader, stated that the seized drugs weighed approximately 250 grams and were valued at PHP1.7 million.

Torpio allegedly had Perez and Maglayon handle the distribution of illegal drugs in Iloilo province’s first district.

Inot said Torpio’s arrest is a significant blow to the drug circle she belonged to.

He also confirmed that Torpio is the youngest of three children of Rolando Torpio, a notorious drug personality in Iloilo City.

Known as “Apa” or “Striker,” Rolando Torpio was a sub-group leader in the Odicta Drug Group, led by slain suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta. Rolando was arrested for a drug-related offense on June 22, 2017, at a relative’s house in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Recently, Rolando’s name resurfaced in the news after a fruit vendor was killed in Pavia, Iloilo. One of the suspects was his nephew, Aljon, while the arrested gunman was his son-in-law.

On October 7, Rolando’s nephew, Alan Torpio, 37, of Villa Carolina, Barangay Caingin, La Paz, was also arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Gen. Hughes, City Proper, Iloilo City. He allegedly sold a sachet of shabu for PHP20,000. More than PHP2 million worth of illegal drugs were confiscated from him.

Although Rolando is currently imprisoned at the New Bilibid Prison, his wife is also behind bars at the Iloilo District Jail in Nanga, Pototan, according to police.

With Myka Torpio’s recent arrest, their daughter could soon be joining her mother in jail.