ILOILO – A suspected member of a drug group and a companion were arrested in a joint buy-bust operation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) on Saturday in Barangay Poblacion, Sara, Iloilo.
The 31-year-old Rambo De Asis of Barangay Aposaga, Sara and Jean Flores, 23, of Barangay Puente Bunglas, Ajuy were detained at the Sara police station.
According to PDEU chief, Police Major Jonathan Pinuela, De Asis, a high-value target, sold P10,000 worth of shabu to a poseur-buyer around 9 .m.
More sachets of shabu were recovered and these were valued at P70,000, said Pinuela.
De Asis was a suspected member of the Bandas drug group operating in northern Iloilo, he added.
He was placed under surveillance for seven months after his release from jail in Barotac Viejo town, said Pinuela.
De Asis was detained sometime in 2014 for an illegal drug case, and was released on Feb. 14, 2019 through a plea bargaining agreement.
Pinuela said the suspect got his supply of shabu from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.
De Asis and Flores face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
