ILOILO – Three illegal drug pushing suspects in central Iloilo Province fell to police hands after months of surveillance, yielding over P1 million worth of suspected shabu in a sting operation in Barangay Gines, Janiuay town.
Arrested were alias “Pudo,” 45, of Barangay Pangilihan, Janiuay; “Tantan,” 53, of Barangay Gines, Janiuay; and “Dayang,” 32, of Barangay Badlan, Calinog.
Authorities confiscated 150 grams of shabu valued at P1,020,000.
According to Major Dadje Delima of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), it took three months of validation before they confirmed the suspects’ illegal operations.
“When we confirmed of their illegal activities we negotiated them through our asset and we immediately arrested them after they sold us P17,000 worth of shabu,” said Delima.
The suspects are now detained at the Janiuay Police Station, facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The bust came just days after a major haul in Sara, Iloilo, where police seized P4.4 million worth of shabu from five suspects on September 6. The operation, which netted 650 grams of the illegal drug, was lauded by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
“Alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga, nadakip ng mga pulis sa Iloilo ang limang suspek at nakumpiska ang tinatayang 650 gramo ng hinihinalang shabu na nagkakahalaga ng P4,420,000 sa Barangay Padios, Sara, Iloilo noong Setyembre 6, 2025,” said Nartatez.
He added: “Ang matagumpay na operasyong ito ay patunay ng ating buong pusong pagtupad sa panawagan ng Pangulo na wakasan ang mga sindikatong patuloy na sumisira sa buhay at kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi titigil ang PNP (Philippine National Police) hangga’t hindi napapanagot ang mga sangkot sa illegal na droga.”/PN
