Woman arrested with PHP 1.9 million in shabu

By Jennifer P. Rendon

More than PHP 1.9 million worth of suspected shabu was seized from a 35-year-old woman following a police anti-narcotics operation on the afternoon of March 10 in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The suspect, identified only as Ruth, a native of Caloocan City, was arrested at her residence in Zone 5, Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit, together with the Regional Intelligence Unit 6, the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics team, the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay Team Bakhaw, and Iloilo City Police Station 10, arrested the suspect after she allegedly sold suspected shabu worth PHP 20,000.

Police operatives also seized six more sachets, five knot-tied plastic bags of suspected shabu, and several non-drug items.

Capt. Roque Gimeno III, chief of the ICPO-City Drug Enforcement Unit, said the seized suspected shabu weighed about 280 grams and had a standard drug price of PHP 1,938,000.

Gimeno said the suspect’s alleged drug activity was well known in Barangay Bakhaw.

He said she had remained elusive and had placed herself under the protection of drug personalities in the village.

Gimeno said the suspect used to be a “bodegera” before Oplan Tokhang.

He said she later laid low following the arrest of her alleged bosses.

He added that she had recently been monitored as active again in the illegal drug trade.

Gimeno said her connections made it possible for her to source her supply locally without leaving Iloilo City.

He declined to identify her alleged supplier.

The suspect is now under police custody and will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.