Woman nabbed in PHP 1.36M Iloilo drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 53-year-old woman suspected of running a drug warehouse was arrested in a buy-bust operation on the afternoon of Feb. 3 in Barangay Marong, Lambunao, Iloilo province.

The suspect, identified only by her alias “Jean,” was caught selling a sachet of suspected shabu worth PHP 15,000 to an undercover operative.

The operation was conducted by the Lambunao Municipal Police Station in coordination with Team 2 of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office–Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU).

Police said they recovered approximately 200 grams of suspected shabu from the suspect, with a standard drug price of PHP 1.36 million.

Lieutenant Gabriel Gilmer Manguera, Pavia police chief, said Jean had previously been arrested in another buy-bust operation several years ago.

She had recently resumed her involvement in the illegal drug trade, authorities said, following the arrest of her brother last month.

Manguera declined to disclose the suspect’s drug source but noted that her operations spanned the towns of Lambunao, Calinog, and Badiangan.

Jean is currently detained and will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.