ILOILO – An ex-convict was arrested yesterday in a buy-bust operation of the police in Barangay Tigum, Pavia town.
The 35-year-old Raymond Tatel was collared outside his house at around 1:30 p.m. by the combined personnel of the Pavia police station and Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
Nine big sachets of suspected valued at P578,000 were recovered.
According to Pavia police chief, Major Rolando Araño, the suspect was placed under surveillance for more than a month.
“May nadakpan kita sang nagligad nga amo nagtudlo nga sya (Tatel) ang source. We conducted surveillance and a test-buy (to validate),” Araño said.
Tatel denied owning the recovered shabu. He claimed they were “planted”. He, however, admitted to being a drug user.
“Naga higda ako sang nag abot mga pulis tapos ginpusasan nila ako. Sang gin papungko nila ako, may shabu na sa lamesa. Indi na akon. Nag untat na ko baligya sobra na isa ka tuig sang nakagwa ako sa prisohan. Nagagamit ako pero wala ko gabaligya,” Tatel told Panay News.
The suspect was released from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo on May 2021 through a plea bargaining agreement.
A source said the suspect had a contact inside the BJMP jail giving instructions.
“We will investigate that matter,” said BJMP jail warden Chief Inspector Jay Miciano./PN
