BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Two individuals were arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay San Pedro, Molo district.
Apprehended were fish vendor Jason Legaspi Francia, alias “Gamay”, 32, of Barangay Tanza Baybay, City Proper and tricycle driver Mark Gedalangga Valderama, 32, of Barangay Rizal Estanzuela, City Proper. Francia was the operation’s main subject.
The operation was conducted at around 9 p.m. on Monday, May 22, by the Iloilo City Police Station 4 (Molo PNP) Station Drug Enforcement Team led by officer-in-charge Police Captain Benjie Q. Dicen.
“Ang aton monitoring [of Francia] naglab-ot sa duha tubtob tatlo ka semana. Na-monitor naton siya nga nagbalik sa pag-engage sa illegal nga droga kaupod niya ini si Mark Valderama,” said Dicen in an interview with Radyo Bandera Iloilo.
He added that Francia was a member of a prison group.
“Sa aton nakwa nga impormasyon, si Jason isa ka preso dati nga nakalaya kag myembro kuno sang ‘Happy Go Lucky’ ukon HGL sa presuhan kag subong may naghatag sang impormasyon nga nagbalik naman siya,” said Dicen.
Five sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated weight of one gram and a market value of P6,800 were recovered.
Police also confiscated a pair of scissors, two lighters, a mobile phone, and a tricycle.
The suspects are now in the custody of the Molo PNP, facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
