BY MA. THERESA LADIAO & RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO – Police arrested a drug suspect and confiscated approximately P2.822 million worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Santiago, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo over the weekend.
Police Major Dadje Delima, chief of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), said that alias “Totong”, 38, a resident of the said place, was caught around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, January 11. A total of 415 grams of illegal drugs and P20,000 in buy-bust money were seized.
The suspect tagged as a high-value target was placed under surveillance for two weeks before the operation.
“When we conducted the buy-bust, he just got his stock. Naghulat pa kami pila ka oras kay nagkuha pa siya sang ila stock, that’s why daku nga volume ang aton nakuha sa iya,” Delima told Panay News.
Delima believed that the illegal drugs were intended for Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.
Delima added that their investigation traced Totong’s illegal drug supply to a fellow resident of the said barangay who is currently detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
The suspect, he said, transacted directly with his supplier inside the prison on at least two occasions. The supplier would call Totong to arrange the delivery of illegal drugs.
“We believe the supplier has access to a mobile phone as he was able to respond quickly to transactions and personally called Totong,” Delima said.
Intelligence report further revealed that the suspect operates not only in northern Iloilo but also in Iloilo City as well as in the provinces of Aklan and Capiz.
The suspect was detained at the Barotac Viejo Municipal Police Station, facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Acts of 2002./PN
