By Jennifer P. Rendon
Nine persons were arrested and more than a million pesos worth of illegal drugs were seized in an anti-narcotics operation early morning of January 9 at Jaro, Iloilo City.
Police identified the suspects as Jameson Chua, 41, of Barangay Buray, Oton, Iloilo; Elea Alinsasaguin, 22, of Barangay Naslo, Pototan, Iloilo; and Angelo Joy Lo, a tricycle driver from Barangay Abilay Norte, Oton.
The three suspects are considered by authorities as high-value individuals (HVIs).
Also arrested were Kit Kenneth Quijano, 40, of Barangay Fatima, Jaro; Kyster Gacer, 25, of Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City; Martino Co, 38, of Barangay South Fundidor, Molo; Raniel Ferraris, 31, of Barangay Rizal, La Paz, Iloilo City; and Gilbert Guzman, 27, and Arniel Alemania, 36, both of Barangay 15, San Miguel, Iloilo.
Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), PDEA Airport Interdiction Unit (AIU) and Seaport Interdiction Unit (SIU), together with the Iloilo City Police Station 3, said Lo was the target of the operation.
Lo was arrested after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P22,000 around 1:45 a.m. of Monday at Barangay San Jose, Jaro.
As it turned out, Lo forged a business partnership with live-in partners Chua and Alinsasaguin.
Recovered from the suspects were 40 sachets of suspected shabu, the marked money, assorted drug paraphernalia, and other non-drug items.
Johnny Boy Ybañez, PDEA-Iloilo provincial officer, said the seized drugs weighed around 200 grams and were valued at P1,360,000.
Ybañez said the couple was renting the apartment that served as a drug den at San Jose village.
“Chua and Alinsasaguin are the drug den maintainers while the six other suspects were caught for visiting a drug den,” he claimed.
The couple’s clients were allegedly caught in a pot session when the operation was done.
Of the nine suspects, it was only Chua who was previously arrested for a drug-related offense.
But authorities are still confirming if the drug case against him was dismissed or if he availed of the plea bargaining agreement.
He and Alinsasaguin were monitored to be in the illegal drug trade almost a month ago.
But Lo had been under PDEA surveillance for over a month already as he was reportedly peddling drugs in the city and province of Iloilo.
He will be charged for violation of Section 5 in relation to Section 26, Article 2 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
On the other hand, Chua and Alinsasaguin will face charges for violation of Sections 6 and 5 in relation to Section 26, Article 2 of RA 9165 while the six others will face a visiting drug den case under Section 7 of RA 9165.
