BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Police arrested a job hire employee of Iloilo City Hall and her co-accused during a buy-bust operation yesterday, Dec. 26, in Barangay East Baluarte, Molo district.
The suspects, identified as Arien Cadiz, 29, a City Hall employee assigned to the beautification department, and Jennifer Marifosque, 50, a housemaid from Barangay Santo Niño Sur, Villa, were classified as high-value individuals (HVI) due to their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Confiscated during the operation were around 120 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of P816,000, along with drug paraphernalia and marked money used in the operation.
The buy-bust operation was conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) after an extensive period of surveillance.
The CDEU operatives, led by Captain Ryan Christ Inot and Lieutenant Joelie John M. Bandojo, successfully carried out the operation that was documented using two body-worn cameras.
The confiscated illegal drug items included one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu as the buy-bust item, three other heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, two knot-tied transparent plastic bags, and a total of P14,000 in buy-bust money, including a marked P100 bill.
The seized drug items will be turned over to RFU6 for proper handling and analysis.
The suspects are currently under the custody of Police Station 4. They will face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165).
In a statement, Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed disappointment over the involvement of a City Hall employee in illegal activities.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstance. As such, her employment with the city government will be terminated immediately,” said Treñas.
Treñas reiterated the city government’s unwavering commitment to the anti-drug campaign, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining a drug-free workplace among government employees.
“We hold our employees to the highest standards of conduct, and any involvement in illegal activities is grounds for dismissal,” the mayor warned.
In response to the recent incident, the mayor announced the implementation of additional measures to strengthen the city’s commitment to a drug-free workforce.
“Starting next year, pursuant to Memorandum Order 282, random drug testing will be conducted for all job hires. Furthermore, drug testing will be required for all city government employees in the coming year,” he added.
These steps are aimed at ensuring that all government personnel maintain the highest level of integrity and are free from involvement in illegal activities, especially the harmful influence of drugs.
Likewise, the mayor praised the successful operation under the supervision of Police Colonel Kim Legada.
He acknowledged the crucial role of law enforcement in tackling illegal drug activities in Iloilo City.
“The success of this operation demonstrates the commitment of our law enforcement units in combating illegal drugs in our city,” the mayor stressed.
Treñas assured the public that the incident will be handled swiftly and appropriately.
“The city government remains committed to maintaining integrity and upholding the law in all its operations. We will continue to support the efforts of our police force in ensuring that Iloilo City remains a safe and drug-free community,” he said.
Police are continuing their investigation to uncover other members of the drug network and dismantle its operations./PN
