BY RUBY SILUBRICO & RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Over P1 million worth of shabu was seized from nine drug suspects during a police operation in Barangay Desamparados, Jaro yesterday, Sept. 18.
The operation’s main target was Bobo Pedrajas, 30, who was first arrested in 2017 for illegal drugs and released in 2021.
Also arrested were Kim Obiapal, 29, who served jail time in 2013 and was released in 2020, and Rolando Obapial Jr., 49.
Police tagged the three as high-value suspects.
The other arrested individuals were:
* Rodson Obapial (brother of Rolando, father of Kim), 51, of Barangay Desamparados
* Julius Pedrajas, 49, of Barangay Desamparados
* Fred Banesio, 39, of Barangay Desamparados
* Romeo Parreño, 23 of Barangay Desamparados
* Joery Miranda, 47, of Barangay Desamparados
* Carlo Emano, 35, of Barangay Montinola, Jaro
They were caught having a pot session around 1:10 p.m., according to Captain Roque Gimeno III, team leader of the Iloilo City Drug Enforcement Unit.
“Ara ni sila tanan sa sulod sang balay pagbakal sang aton posuer buyer… Indi ta pa man ni maano nga drug den siya because first pa lang namon na di nga sulod sa ila… I don’t know kung nasulod na ni siya sang PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency] dati,” said Gimeno.
He added: “Madugay na naton gina-surveillance ang grupo.“
According to Gimeno, the suspects’ alleged drug supplier was from Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao district.
More or less 150 grams of shabu worth P1,020,000 and drug paraphernalia were recovered.
The suspects were taken to the Jaro Police Station and will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9166 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
