ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has expressed concern over the election of barangay officials linked to illegal drugs.
Its alarm followed a significant drug bust where three kilos of shabu valued at P20.4 million were confiscated in Barangay Camalig, Jaro district. This police operation, conducted on Nov. 9 at Dolmax Subdivision, marked the largest seizure of illegal drugs in Panay Island.
ICPO director Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica highlighted the persistent challenge in curbing drug trafficking, saying, “Despite arrests and continuous drug operations, there are still individuals who are emboldened to venture into these illegal activities.”
Coronica saw a daunting task for law enforcement, especially with the revelation that certain barangay officials, who he chose not to name, are allegedly linked to the drug trade and financed by narcotics dealers.
“We fear that more might venture into drug trafficking, influenced by these officials. However, we are intensifying our barangay intelligence network to monitor the movements of drug personalities more closely,” said Coronica.
Mayor Jerry Treñas also shared his alarm but expressed relief that the police were successful in intercepting a substantial volume of shabu and apprehending more drug suspects. He stressed the importance of continued vigilance in the fight against illegal drugs.
The successful operation led to the arrest of three individuals, known as “Shanon,” “Anne,” and their assistant “Rose Anne.” They were detained at the Iloilo City Police Office Station 3.
Shanon, who has a disability from a previous motorcycle accident, had previously been incarcerated for drug offenses and had availed of a plea bargain agreement in 2021.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) reported that a staggering P274 million worth of illegal drugs had been seized across the region in just 10 months. From January to May, drugs worth P88,030,809 were confiscated, and from June to October, an additional P185,932,833 worth of narcotics were intercepted.
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) recorded the highest confiscation value at P90.4 million, closely followed by the Iloilo City Police Office with seizures totaling P85.6 million.
Notably, on Oct. 17, just before the MassKara Festival, the BCPO seized 3.2 kilos of shabu worth P20.53 million in a sting operation in Barangay Singcang Airport./PN
