Tokhang surrenderer falls in drug sting

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

A Tokhang surrenderer was arrested in an anti-illegal drugs operation shortly after midnight of Nov. 5, 2019 at Janiuay, Iloilo.

The suspect, Efren Robles, 40, of Barangay Pungsod, Lambunao town, was collared in Gines village.

He allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for P1,200.

When arrested, the suspect yielded four more sachets of suspected shabu, P2,450 cash, P1,200 marked money, and a mobile phone.

Police Captain Dadje Delima, Janiuay police chief, said the suspect is a high value target (HVT) level 1 drug personality being a Tokhang surrenderer.

He finished the community-based drug rehabilitation program in July 2019.

“He might have been thinking that he would be out of our radar once he completed the rehab program,” Delima said.

But police later learned that Robles went back to selling drugs.

Delima said they confirmed his involvement after the arrest of a suspected drug pusher who revealed that Robles was their source.

Robles allegedly supplied illegal drugs in the towns of Cabatuan, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Calinog.

He is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).