ILOILO City – A dismissed police officer and four companions were arrested in a joint buy-bust operation on Wednesday, October 14, in Barangay Cahaguichican, Pototan, Iloilo, yielding P2.82 million worth of suspected shabu.
Police identified the suspects as aliases “Garry,” 46, and Rolly, 47, a former police officer, both tagged as high-value targets; alongside street-level individuals “Bert,” 48, and “Warren,” 23; all residents of Pototan; and “Nick,” 37, from Mina town.
Joint operatives of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s (IPPO) Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Provincial Intelligence Unit (PDEU), Regional Intelligence Division 6, and Pototan Municipal Police Station (MPS) executed the sting at around 3:55 p.m. after Garry allegedly sold P13,000 worth of suspected shabu to an undercover police poseur-buyer.
The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 415 grams of the said illegal substance with an estimated standard drug price of P2,822,000.
Major Dadje Delima, PDEU chief, revealed that Garry and Rolly had been under surveillance for a year. He noted that Rolly was previously dismissed from service after testing positive for illegal drug use during a surprise test at Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
IPPO director Colonel Bayani M. Razalan commended the operating units for their effective coordination and successful implementation of the anti-narcotics operation, which led to the arrest of the suspects and the seizure of illegal drugs.
“We will continue to strengthen coordination among our operating units and partner agencies to pursue individuals identified and validated as being involved in illegal drug activities, hold them accountable, and protect communities from the harmful effects of the said illegal substance,” Razalan added.
The five suspects are currently detained at the Pototan MPS custodial facility, facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
