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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Thursday, May 11, 2017
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ILOILO City – A sister of high-value drug pushing suspect Rolando “Apa” Torpio was arrested in a buy-bust operation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6 in Barangay South San Jose, Molo district.
The 47-year-old Almira Torpio Jadulos sold a sachet of shabu for P500 to an undercover PDEA officer around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Assistant Regional Director Levi Ortiz.
Another sachet was recovered from Jadulos after her arrest.
“Matagal na naming target ‘yan kaso segurista at hindi ‘yan nagbebenta ng droga sa hindi n’ya kilala. But our female agent really did her best to get our target,” said Ortiz.
Jadulos denied selling shabu, in a radio interview. She also denied owning the shabu that PDEA recovered.
Jadulos also claimed the P500 given to her was from a friend who previously borrowed money from her.
The suspect, however, admitted maintaining communication with her brother Rolando whose whereabouts were currently unknown.
Torpio was released from detention at the Iloilo City District Jail just this January after posting bail for a drug case.
Ortiz said they received information that Torpio resumed illegal drug activities after posting bail for his temporary liberty.
In December 2013 Torpio was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia at the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office. His case, however, gained traction only last February 2016. It was raffled to a regional trial court and the following month, Torpio posted a P40,000 bail bond for his temporary liberty.
July 7 last year, Torpio – listed No. 5 in the Iloilo City Police Office’s (ICPO) target list of suspected drug personalities – surrendered. But he was released a few hours after.
Torpio claimed to have stopped pushing drugs as early as 2014. He appeared to be wary of the Philippine National Police’s Oplan Double Barrel launched at the start of the Duterte administration.
Torpio submitted an affidavit of undertaking promising to stay away from illegal drugs.
Within police circles, Torpio is known for aliases “Apa” and “Striker.”
October last year, Torpio asked the court to cancel the bail bond he posted in March. Fearing for his life outside of prison, he sought incarceration at the jail in Barangay Ungka, Jaro.
Before he was taken to the Iloilo City District Jail – Male Dormitory, Torpio said in a radio interview he and the people around him were being threatened.
“Ini para sa safety na lang sang tanan bala kay damo gaka-apektuhan sa palibot ko, nga kon indi ko kuno mag-surrender, ang iban mahalitan,” he said.
He did not say who were behind the threats.
Torpio disclosed that he was previously selling illegal drugs and got his supply from the slain businessman, Melvin “Boyet” Odicta Sr., whom the authorities identified as the drug lord “Dragon.”
Just this January 13, Torpio decided to post bail again to regain his temporary liberty./PN
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