By Rhenjie Marie E. Calantas and Ruby Silubrico
ILOILO City – Are big-time illegal drug groups now back in Iloilo following two big anti-drug operations in separate districts here in one day?
Four high-value individuals and a newly identified drug suspect were arrested after yielding a total of P2,318,800 worth of suspected shabu in separate drug buy-bust operations on Thursday, August 4.
In Villa Carolina Subdivision Zone 4B, Block 9, Barangay Caingin, La Paz district here, the joint elements of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RDEU-6) and Iloilo City Police Station 2 arrested past 8 p.m. three high-value suspects identified as Mon Carl Alarde, 28, a resident of the said village; John Inayan, 29, of Poblacion, Leganes, Iloilo; and John Vincent Solinap, 28, of Barangay Ginubatan, Leganes; and newly identified drug suspect Alberto Lopez, 29, of Barangay Hipodromo, Delgado St., City Proper.
Police confiscated eight sachets of suspected shabu weighing 240 grams and valued at around P1,632,000, and one unit of .380 pistol with magazine loaded with seven live ammunition, one unit .22 revolver with four live ammunition and one magazine for caliber .45 with eight live ammunition.
“Our suspects were monitored sang aton kapulisan for almost two months para mapasiguro kun truly naga-involve gid man sila sa ilegal nga droga and nag-conduct sang transaction ang aton mga kapulisan sa ila thru buy-bust,” said Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel Solis in an interview with Panay News.
RDEU-6 chief Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez, Jr., meanwhile, said that Alarde, Inayan and Solinap were once jailed at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Barangay Ungka, Jaro for illegal drug cases.
“They were released years ago and again they engaged in illegal drug activity that’s why they were classified as high-value drug personalities. Pero si Lopez newly identified drug pusher sia,” Benitez added.
The suspects are now detained, facing charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Earlier on Thursday, RDEU-6 arrested a gay beautician who was also tagged as a high-value drug personality in a buy-bust operation at Sitio Matawhay, Barangay Tabuc Suba in Jaro district.
The 38-year-old Jonel Hulipa yielded 101 grams of suspected shabu with a street value of P686,800, including the buy-bust item.
Benitez said the suspect was using his room as a drug den.
Hulipa was taken to the Jaro Police Station and he will be charged will be charge for violation of RA 9165./PN
