Trio falls in drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A single mother and her two alleged cohorts were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation evening of Aug 11, 2022 in Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Police identified the suspects as Christine Marie Mucho, 32, of Zone 1, Barangay Sto. Niño Norte, Arevalo, Iloilo City; Jean Robles, 28, a resident of Deca Homes in Barangay Hibao-an, Pavia, Iloilo; and Merell Rubino, 27, of Barangay Boulevard, Molo, Iloilo City.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Station 6 said Mucho was the target of the operation.

Major Chen Tañagras, ICPS6 chief, said they carried out the buy-bust operation following a two-week surveillance.

The suspects were arrested after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P2,000.

Recovered from them were five sachets of suspected shabu, the marked money, a mobile phone, and several drug and non-drug items.

The confiscated drugs weighed 9.4 grams and valued at P63,920.

An informant allegedly tipped police operatives that Mucho was selling drugs at Barangay Sto. Niño Norte and neighboring villages.

“Most of her clients are commercial sex workers,” Tañagras said.

Mucho used to be a resident of City Proper district, then transferred to La Paz and Lapus districts before moving again to Arevalo for about a month ago.

She’s staying with her 14- and 4-year-old daughters and her mother and several other persons who hail from different areas.

Mucho used to work as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia and went home in December 2021.

Considered as a street level individual, the suspect only admitted that she is into illegal drug use.

“She claimed not to be into drug pushing pero naga-run kuno siya,” Tañagras said.

Police have already identified where the suspects sourced their illegal drug supply.

The suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).