Two caught in drug bust; two others escape

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By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two more persons were added to the list of individuals who were busted anew for their alleged illegal drug dealings.

Vicente Pirote, 45, and Mark Lester Glenn Obregon, 32, were arrested evening of August 25 in Barangay Desamparados, Jaro, Iloilo City, where they also reside.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), together with the Iloilo City Police Station 3, led the operation that netted Pirote and Obregon after they allegedly connived in selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P20,000.

But two of their companions evaded arrest by jumping from the house’s second-floor window.

Recovered from their possession were nine more sachets of suspected shabu, a coin purse, a mobile phone, a weighing scale, a lighter, a pair of scissors, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, and cash of P800.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., CDEU chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 50 grams and were valued at P340,000.

They were arrested after a three-week surveillance.

It was gathered that both suspects were previously arrested for drug-related cases.

Pirate was charged for violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) in 2016.

Obregon was charged for Sections 5 and 11, Article II of RA 9165 in 2016.

Both availed of the plea bargaining agreement and were released in 2016.

Aside from RA 9516, the suspects will also be charged for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).