By RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO — Five people were arrested by police operatives in a drug buy-bust operation in Brgy. Villahermosa, Sara town.
Arrested were Melanie Villegas, Ronnie Villegas, Jeffson Pasios, Nahur Azuelo and Julius Sotie, all of the said barangay.
Melanie Villegas was collared after selling three sachets of shabu to a police poseur buyer.
Operatives also seized unlicensed caliber .45 pistol and ammunition from Azuero, and an unlicensed caliber .9mm pistol from each of Ronnie Villegas and Sotie.
The operation at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday was staged by personnel of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) intelligence unit and the Sara police station.
Police said the suspects had long been on their list of suspected drug personalities in the province.
“Our operation against illegal drugs would not stop, especially against high-value targets,” said Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas, police provincial director.
The Sara drug bust came four days after a similar operation in Brgy. Calao, Dumangas, led to the arrest of village chieftain Teopisto Gomez and three others.
Arrested along with Gomez were Judy Demafilez, 35, and Michael Libo, 30, both of Brgy. Ilaya, and Mark Jason Diamante, 22, of Brgy. Poblacion.
IPPO and Dumangas police station personnel conducted the operation in the house of the barangay captain at about 12:30 p.m. on May 2.
Six sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, P2,850 cash, an M16 rifle and a caliber .40 pistol were apprehended.
Salinas said Gomez was considered a “high-value” target and was the first barangay official arrested for illegal drugs this year./PN
