Trio nabbed in P3.4-M shabu sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Another day, another anti-illegal drugs operation in Iloilo City.

In yet another anti-narcotics operation, police collared three persons afternoon of Jan. 22 at Barangay Zamora-Melliza, City Proper district.

The suspects were identified as Rexston Amoroso, 30; Ricsie Biclar, 33, tricycle driver; and Joel Abada, 42, e-bike driver. All are residents of Zamora-Melliza village.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Iloilo City Police Stations 1 and 4, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6, the Iloilo City Mobile Force Company, the Regional Maritime Unit (RMU) 6 and ICPO Special Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT team), carried out the operation.

Police recovered from the suspects 21 sachets weighing 500 grams of suspected shabu worth P3,400,000.

Amoroso was able to flee after the transaction. He allegedly exited from a room and jumped over a wall.

But it didn’t take long for police operatives to corner him.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., CDEU chief, said the trio purposely made an exit door inside the bedroom in the event that police would run after them.

It was gathered that the trio had the whole of Iloilo City as their area of operation.

Police did a two-month surveillance before finally arresting the suspects.

But aside from his present case, Amoroso was lately accused of frustrated murder.

He allegedly shot a certain Douglas Salgado early morning of Jan. 1 at Barangay Zamora-Melliza.

He fled to Iloilo province but was monitored to have returned to the area recently.

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