ILOILO — Police operatives seized nearly half a kilogram of suspected shabu valued at P3.36 million and a loaded handgun following an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Botongon, Estancia, Iloilo on Tuesday afternoon, September 29.
The joint buy-bust operation netted eight suspects, including two classified as high-value individuals identified as aliases “Tate,” 40, and “Toto,” 26. The other six tagged as street-level suspects were aliases “Nene,” 34; “Billy,” 21; “Nonoy,” 48; “Victor,” 26; “Cora,” 44; and “Seping,” 42.
Confiscated during the operation were approximately 495 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P3,366,000, along with an unlicensed .9mm revolver loaded with three live rounds of ammunition.
The raid was executed by the Iloilo Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6, the Estancia Municipal Police Station (MPS), the Regional Intelligence Division 6, and the Regional Intelligence Unit 6.
All eight suspects are currently detained at the Estancia MPS awaiting the formal filing of charges for violations of Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Colonel Bayani M. Razalan warned illicit drug traders operating in northern Iloilo that law enforcement will maintain its aggressive stance across the province.
“May these arrests serve as a reminder to those who choose to engage in illegal activities that they cannot hide from the long arms of the law,” Razalan said, emphasizing that the IPPO will continue to pursue drug personalities strictly within the bounds of the law./PN
