Village dad falls in drug sting

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

A village official in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo was arrested in an anti-illegal drugs operation afternoon of Nov. 1, 2019.

Police identified the suspect as Barangay Kagawad Nelson Solas, 46, of Bita-og Taytay village, Sta. Barbara.

Members of Sta. Barbara Police Station and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU) arrested Solas after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu around 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Solas yielded 14 more sachets of suspected shabu, P1,100 cash, and a mobile phone.

Police Major Raymond Celoso, Sta. Barbara police chief, said the suspect was subjected to Oplan Tokhang sometime in 2016.

He did not surrender but assured police authorities that he will cooperate with them.

He underwent drug test which was negative.

Celoso said they thought Solas had stopped selling illegal drugs at the height of the Oplan Tokhang campaign. But they later learned that he went back to the narcotics trade.

Solas was allegedly the source of illegal drugs supply in some areas of Sta. Barbara and neighboring Zarraga town. He allegedly got his supply from a certain Kenneth.

But Celoso said Solas might also be getting his items from other pushers in the province as well.

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