BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO & RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Two drug pushing suspects yielded over P1-million worth of suspected shabu in Barangay Luboc, Lapuz district.
Twenty-one sachets, including the buy-bust item, weighing 157 grams and valued at P1,067,600 were recovered from Jonald “Opay/Onat” M. Eguales, 33, of Zone 5, Barangay Boulevard, Molo district and Jenny Joy “Inday” J. Padesterio, 19, of Barangay Ingore, La Paz district.
The City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) conducted the operation at about 2:50 a.m. on Saturday, July 22.
“Almost two months nga monitoring namon until nakuha naton siya diri sa Barangay Loboc. Ang iya mga customers street level pushers kag ang mode of transaction niya sini is delivery, then ang ginadala niya permi is 150 to 200 grams,” CDEU team leader Roque Gimeno III said in an interview with Radyo Bandera Iloilo.
He added: “Alleged source niya is (a certain) ‘Dodz’ from Oton, and ang area of operation niya is Barangay Desamparados (Jaro district) as well as neighboring barangays sa City Proper, portion sang La Paz kag didto sa Oton,”
The suspects face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Iloilo City Police Office director Colonel Joeresty Coronica told Panay News: “Kung wala naton nakuha ang droga pila ka kabataan kag iban pa nga drug users ang mahalitan.”
He said Iloilo City is a transshipment point for illegal drugs.
“Ang Iloilo City alagyan abi sang mga drug pushers amo ina nga gin-intensify naton ang monitoring. Kadaku sang aton na-recover pero it doesn’t mean na rampant ang drugs, but because madamo lang naga-feed sang information sa aton,” he added.
On the other hand, Police Regional Office 6 director Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor commended the operating units.
“This seized 157 grams of shabu lessened the supply chain of illegal drugs, and it saved hundreds of individuals using illegal drugs, their families, friends, and the entire community,” he added./PN
