BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Law enforcers arrested 11 individuals and seized over P400,000 worth of suspected shabu in Barangay Desamparados, Jaro district at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 30.
Suspect Roberto “Toto” Favella Latoza, 26, a construction worker and resident of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, was the operation’s main target.
Latoza sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer for P7,000.
The operation was conducted by elements of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) led by Police Captain Val Cambel, together with the Jaro Police Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) led by Police Captain Lester Oliveros.
ICPO director Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica said Latoza was a high-value suspect.
“After two months nga pag-conduct sang surveillance, nangin successful ang aton operation that led to the arrest of 11 individuals… ang isa amo ang promotor, ang high-value individual, kag amo ini ang may drug den diri,” said Coronica.
The 10 other suspects caught allegedly in a pot session were Leopoldo Ubaldo, 34, of Barangay Airport, Mandurriao district; Angelo Galia, 18, of Barangay San Isidro; Marken Dela Peña, 20, of Barangay Desamparados; Elmer Lucot, 39, of Barangay Lopez Jaena, Jaro district; Asher Sanchez, 19, of Barangay Alalasan, Lapuz district; Felipe Yanco, 36, of Salvacion Subdivision, Barangay 6, Victorias City, Negros Occidental; Armando Diaz, 29, of Barangay Alalasan, Lapuz; Carlos Bitonga, 38, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro; Roel Raymundo, 37, of Barangay Rizal, Lapuz; and a 16-year-old alias “Nonoy”, also a resident of Barangay San Isidro.
A total of 11 sachets of suspected shabu, with an estimated weight of 60 grams and a standard drug price of P408,000, were recovered.
The 11 suspects were detained at the Jaro Police Station, facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
