BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – Within overnight, police personnel in the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod successfully carried out anti-illegal drug operations, resulting in the seizure of an estimated P9,023,000 worth of suspected shabu.
In this city’s Barangay Malipayon-Delgado at around 9:38 p.m. on Jan. 10, approximately 1,170 grams of shabu with a standard drug price of P7,956,000 were seized.
The operation also led to the arrest of two high-value suspects identified as “Erwin,” 22, of Barangay Baldoza in La Paz district, and “Pirot,” 40, of Barangay Ingore, La Paz.
Police Regional Office 6 spokesperson Major Mary Grace Borio said the bulk of the illegal substance is likely intended for distribution this upcoming Dinagyang Festival.
“Possible gid. But thanks sa aton operatives kag sa community, na-confiscate before mapagwa ang supply sang drugs,” Borio told Panay News.
Meanwhile, city police director Colonel Joeresty P. Coronica said they are intensifying their intelligence monitoring.
“Ang paghupot sang drugs kag pagbagsak diri sa city is in preparation para sa paraabuton natun nga Dinagyang Festival. Gina–expect na na namun nga prior pa man sa festival ma–stock na sila sang illegal drugs,” Coronical said in a Panay News interview.
He added: “Because of our monitoring, naka-develop sang information nga halin pa sa Luzon nakakuha na sila information nga may ibagsak sila sa atun diri sa Iloilo City and before pa man magkalat sa mga streets nakuha na,”
Also seized were a blue sedan, the buy-bust money, and non-drug items.
The Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit, led by Police Captain Glenn Soliman, carried out the operation together with the Iloilo City Police Station 1-Station Drug Enforcement Team, the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Special Weapons and Tactics team.
In Bacolod City, at 1:54 a.m. on Jan. 11, the operation at Purok Progress Village 2, Barangay Vista Alegre led to the seizure of suspected shabu weighing approximately 157 grams.
The illegal substance was valued at around P1,067,000.
“Christian,” tagged by police as a high-value suspect, and his accomplice “Lance” were cuffed after selling illegal drugs to a police poseur buyer.
All arrested individuals were placed in police custody and will be facing charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.
Police Brigadier General Sidney N. Villaflor, the region’s top cop, commended the operating units and expressed his appreciation to the force.
“Good job, napigilan na naman ang pagkalat ng droga sa rehiyon dahil sa inyong husay at dedikasyon sa trabaho. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa mamamayan na patuloy na sumusuporta sa layunin ng pulisya na gawing ligtas, payapa, at drug-free ang Western Visayas,” Villaflor said./PN
