BY RUBY SILUBRICO & JEN BAYLON
ILOILO – Operatives of the Police Regional Office 6 seized suspected shabu worth more than P5.6 million from three drug suspects during two separate operations recently.
The successful operation at Deca Homes 3 in Barangay Balabag, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo led to the confiscation of 730 grams of shabu with a standard drug price of P4,964,000.
The Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6, in collaboration with Sta. Barbara Municipal Police Station, apprehended two high-value drug suspects and live-in partners identified as “Dindo” and “Gigil.”
They sold P26,000 worth of illegal drugs to an undercover police officer at about 5:40 p.m. on Jan. 31.
Advanced ARD cameras were utilized to ensure seamless execution.
Items recovered during the operation include one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet (buy-bust item), buy-bust money, six heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of the suspected shabu, and eight knot-tied plastic bags, along with other non-drug items.
According to Sta. Barbara police chief Major Jose Rey Pabalan, the suspects reportedly rented an apartment at the subdivision for a month already.
“Naga-rent na sila dira sa subdivision for a month na kag isa sila sa mga top targets sang region,” Pabalan said.
Police intelligence reports showed that Dindo was once arrested in a drug operation in Iloilo province but was later released from jail.
In Bacolod City, meanwhile, a total of P714,000 worth of suspected illegal drugs were confiscated in Purok Hollow Blocks, Barangay Singcang-Airport.
The suspect, known as 45-year-old “Jojo” of the aforementioned area, was apprehended at approximately 12:40 a.m. on Feb. 1 by the elements of Special Operations Unit 6, Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group, and Police Station 8.
Among the items recovered were 10 small and 20 large plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, buy-bust money, and non-drug paraphernalia.
Barangay captain Atty. Caesar Distrito of Singcang-Airport appeals to drug users in the barangay to put an end to their illegal activities.
“Malooy kamo sa inyo kabataan kag pamilya kay mawad-an sila amay ukon kabataan tungod mapreso ka gid. Malooy kamo sa inyo mga kaugalingon, kay indi gid kamo na kagwa sa presuhan. Malooy kamo sa inyo komunidad nga ang nerbyos nila every time may mga adik sila nga masugata,” Distrito said. “Kag ma konsensya man kamo tani nga ginaguba nyo ya ang kabuhi sang madamo nga kabataan kag pamilya tungod sang inyo gina ubra.”
All three apprehended drug suspects will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
