By Jennifer P. Rendon
Three more drug personalities were busted in separate anti-drug operations on March 15 in Iloilo province.
Arrested were Rofani Pineda, 34, of Barangay Sta. Rosa- Laguna, Guimbal, Iloilo; Adrian Gemino, 26, of Barangay Potrido, Miagao, Iloilo; and Nelmar Artacho, 36, of Sitio Dawis, Barangay Poblacion, Ajuy, Iloilo.
All suspects are considered street-level drug pushers.
Pineda and Gemino were nabbed at 3:50 a.m. Wednesday at Barangay Igcocolo, Guimbal.
Following their arrest, members of the Guimbal Police Station, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) 6, and the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company seized 5 plastic sachets of suspected shabu and illegal drug paraphernalia.
Captain Felice Dioso, Guimbal police chief, said that the two suspects are alleged newly-identified drug personalities in their area.
However, Pineda claimed she had a previous drug-related arrest in Bacolod City and is presently under probation.
Meanwhile, members of Ajuy MPS, Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), and 2nd IPMFC collared Artacho at around 4:30 p.m. at Sitio Dawis, Barangay Poblacion, Ajuy.
Recovered from the suspect were seven sachets of suspected shabu including the buy-bust item, the P1,500 marked money, a caliber Para-Ordnance .45 caliber pistol (serial number 191257) with one magazine loaded with 15 ammunition, and several non-drug items.
The seized drugs weighed around 12 grams and has a standard drug price value of P81,600.
All three suspects would be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Artacho would also face a case for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
