ILOILO City – Police seized P1.7-million worth of shabu and a firearm from a robbery suspect during an operation in Barangay Carvasana, Calinog, Iloilo.
The operation, which took place yesterday, targeted a suspected member of the now-dismantled Chiva-Fajardo robbery group.
The suspect, identified only as 45-year-old “Joms” from Barangay Tabucan, Calinog, was apprehended and taken to the Calinog Police Station at around 11 a.m.
“Joms has been under surveillance since last year, and following a two-week negotiation process initiated by an undercover asset, we managed to intercept him with substantial illegal possessions,” said Captain Miles Dieron, Chief of Calinog Police.
During the operation, authorities recovered 250 grams of shabu and a caliber .45 pistol with ammunition.
Colonel Bayani Razalan, the office-in-charge director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), said “Joms” was a significant player in both provincial and city-wide drug operations.
The Chiva-Fajardo group had previously been involved in numerous robbery incidents and operated as guns-for-hire. With this operation, IPPO aims to send a strong message to other criminal elements about the intensified crackdown on illegal activities.
Razalan also highlighted the dangers faced by police personnel during such operations.
“Drug pushers are often armed and dangerous, which is why we constantly remind our teams to exercise utmost caution,” he said.
He praised the courage of the operation teams and the essential support from the local community, which has significantly contributed to the success of anti-drug campaigns.
“Joms” faces charges for possession of an unlicensed firearm and violation of the Comperhensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
