ILOILO – A string of antidrug operations led to the confiscation of close to P700,000 worth of illegal drugs and apprehension of five drug personalities.
The series of operations were staged by police stations of Pavia and Sta. Barbara towns and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU).
The first operation led to the arrest of 26-year-old Mae Napat of Barangay Solido, Nabas, Aklan.
She was working as a laborer in Sta. Barbara. She handed over to a poseur buyer two sachets of suspected shabu for P6,000, said Pavia police chief Major Jojo Tabaloc.
The second operation led to the arrest of Rosemay Balinas, 42; Jennifer Soldevilla, 39; and Noemi Vargas, 27, all residents of Taft Street, Barangay Zone IV, Sta. Barbara.
“We have been conducting surveillance upon receiving news that they were released from jail,” Tabaloc said.
Recovered from the three were 11 sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P660,000; assorted money transfer receipts, digital weighing scale, and P10,000 buy-bust money, among others.
Later that day, drug suspect Elmer Minguillo, 44, a resident of Barangay Balabag, Pavia was also arrested.
Police operatives recovered from him five sachets of suspected shabu valued at around P12,000 and P1,200 marked money.
Balinas, Minguillo and Napat were previously apprehended and released after a plea-bargaining agreement.
“When they came out through plea bargaining agreement last year, they again engaged in illegal drugs. They are handing a huge amount of illegal drugs and Balinas’ house serves as their warehouse. From Cebu City gina-bagsak nila dira sa balay,” Tabaloc explained, adding the suspects were able to set up a network while inside the jail.
The operation was among the biggest hauls of the IPPO this year.
Except for Napat who is under the custody of the Sta. Barbara police station, the rest are currently detained in the lockup cell of the Pavia police station. Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against them./PN
