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[av_heading heading=’Drug suspect admits ties to Odicta group ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – A drug suspect that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested yesterday admitted his ties to the Odicta drug group.
PDEA operatives busted the 46-year-old Carlo “Jong-jong” Balledos around 10:50 a.m. on Governor Norada Street, Barangay Muelle Loney-Montes, City Proper. His wife Yda who was with him was also arrested.
According to PDEA Region 6 assistant director Levi Ortiz, Balledos became a subgroup leader of the Odicta drug group but was replaced when he was arrested in 2011.
Balledos was arrested in 2011 and charged for violation of sections 5, 6 and 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
“When he was arrested in 2011 ng PDEA operatives, nag-lie low siya kaya napalitan siya ng ibang subgroup leaders,” Ortiz told Panay News.
In 2015, Balledos was able to post bail. Ortiz found this strange; the suspect’s case was non-bailable, he explained.
After his release, Balledos went back to selling drugs, said Ortiz.
Balledos, however, denied this. While he admitted having previously worked for the Odicta group, he said he stopped trafficking drugs after posting bail.
“May tsansa man ang tawo nga mag bag-o mo,” Balledos, a resident of Barangay Veterans Village, City Proper, told Panay News.
In yesterday’s PDEA operation, a poseur buyer was able to buy a plastic sachet of shabu from Balledos.
PDEA recovered from Balledos five more plastic sachets of shabu, a blue bandana, a cell phone and a Suzuki motorcycle with plate number FA 25855.
Balledos’ wife Yda, however, claimed the shabu sachets were “planted.”
“Indi ina amon. Ila (PDEA operatives) na ‘ya. Bal-an nila kun ano ang kamatuoran,” she told Panay News.
Ortiz, however, dismissed Yda’s claim.
“Lahat nang nahuli ganyan ang defense,” said Ortiz.
The Balledos husband and wife were detained at the PDEA detention cell. They face a charge for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002./PN
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