ILOILO City — A 37-year-old part-time college instructor was arrested after approximately P1.36 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Jalandoni Estate, Lapuz district on Sunday evening, July 20.
Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) identified the suspect as alias “Mark,” a resident of Lapuz tagged as a high-value individual.
Prior to his arrest, authorities had placed him under surveillance for nearly a month due to his alleged involvement in illegal drug distribution across the La Paz district and neighboring areas of the city.
Seized during the operation were 11 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets and two knot-tied transparent plastic bags containing around 200 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P1,360,000, along with the buy-bust money and non-drug paraphernalia.
The operation was conducted jointly by intelligence operatives from the Iloilo City Police Office’s (ICPO) City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), the Iloilo Maritime Police Station, the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics Team, and the Iloilo City Police Station 8 – Station Drug Enforcement Team.
The suspect is currently in police custody facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PRO-6 acting director Brig. Gen. Randulf T. Tuaño commended the operating units for the successful arrest, reiterating the regional command’s uncompromising stance against illegal drugs.
“No one is above the law. This successful operation demonstrates that PRO-6 will relentlessly pursue individuals engaged in the illegal drug trade, regardless of their occupation or status in society,” Tuaño said. “Through intelligence-driven operations and strong collaboration with our partner agencies and communities, we will continue dismantling drug networks and denying them any safe haven in Western Visayas.”
He added: “In line with the vision of PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. for ‘Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas,’ PRO-6 remains steadfast in advancing responsive, trusted, and transformative policing for a safer region.”/PN
