ILOILO City – A casual employee of a municipal government and his two companions were arrested in an antidrug operation on Tuesday, August 5, in Barangay Talokgangan, Banate, Iloilo.
Alias “Toto,” 38, an employee of the Pototan local government unit, and his live-in partner, alias “Mercy,” 30, both residents of Barangay San Jose Ward, Pototan; and alias “Ma-Ma,” 42, of Sitio Caburihan, Barangay Carmelo, Banate, were caught at 2:25 p.m. after they sold P1,000 worth of suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer.
Officers of the Banate Police Station (MPS) seized a total of 10 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P68,000. Toto also yielded a caliber .40 Taurus pistol.
According to Police Captain Randy Lambungan of the Banate MPS, the three were under surveillance for several days before the operation.
“They have been under surveillance for several days after we received reports that Ma-ma was their contact here in Banate. We transacted with them through our asset and we recovered illegal drugs and unlicensed gun,” Lambungan told Panay News.
The suspects, Lambungan said, were operating province-wide.
He added that Toto, tagged as a high-value target, was previously charged for frustrated murder in Pototan and illegal drug trade in Janiuay.
On the other hand, Police Colonel Bayani Razalan, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), lauded the Banate police for their firm commitment to combat illegal drugs.
“Handum naton tanan ang kalinong kag katawhayan sang aton pinalangga nga probinsya, ilabi na ang pagpapas sang ilegal nga droga sa aton komunidad. Magbululigay kita para matapna ang droga,” Razalan said.
The suspects were detained at the Banate MPS and will be charged for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). Toto will also face a charge for violating RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act)./PN
