By Jennifer P. Rendon
Six persons, including a barangay kagawad (village council member) and a minor, were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of Jan 30, 2022 in Arevalo, Iloilo City.
The suspects were identified as Richard Dipol, 43; kagawad Rosita Macoco, 57; Renerose Macoco, 33; and Michelle Soliman, 34. All are residents of Barangay Sto. Niño Norte, where the buy-bust operation was conducted.
Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RPDEU-6) also nabbed Teddy Boy Pitogo, 37, of Barangay Quezon, Arevalo and alias Jay, 16, of Barangay San Antonio, Oton, Iloilo.
Rockwell Mandal, also a resident of Sto. Niño Norte, escaped the sting operation.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, RPDEU-6 chief, said Mandal was the target of the bust.
Mandal is Rosita’s nephew while Renerose is her daughter.
Dipol’s mother and Rosita are also cousins.
Mandal’s elder sister is Soliman’s partner.
Darroca said Dipol, Soliman, and Rosita led the confidential agents to Mandal’s house, which is around 40 meters from the roadside.
The two undercover agents bought a sachet of suspected shabu for P12,000.
During the transaction, Renerose, Pitogo, and the 16-year-old boy were caught in a pot session.
Recovered during the operation were 11 big and 14 small sachets of suspected shabu, the marked money, P1,437 cash, various drug paraphernalia, and other non-drug items.
Darroca said the seized drugs was valued at P374,000.
The suspects underwent drug testing. All six arrested persons, except for Rosita, were found positive for illegal drug use.
Police claimed that Mandal’s supply came from Bacolod City.
“But still, the transaction emanated from the New Bilibid Prison. It was there were the transaction happened and the supply was just sent from Bacolod City,” Darroca said.
Mandal, Dipol, Rosita, and Soliman will be charged for violation of Section 5, in relation to Section 26, Article II, of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Renerose, Pitogo, and alias Jay are facing a charge for visiting a drug den.
