BY MAI LADIAO
ILOILO City – A high-value drug suspect and former inmate was found in possession of suspected shabu with a standard price of P2,924,000 and a street value as high as P8,600,000 during a police operation in La Paz district on Friday morning.
Damian Cataluña was apprehended by the City Drug Enforcement Unit, in cooperation with other police units, at around 10:30 a.m. on April 12 in Zone 3, Barangay Caingin.
The 49-year-old resident of Barangay Sinikway, Lapuz district first served jail time in 2013 due to illegal drugs and was released in 2018, according to Iloilo City Police Office director Colonel Joeresty Coronica in a radio interview.
He was again collared for the same charges in the same year and availed of plea bargaining in 2022, Coronica added.
The recoveries from Friday’s operation included six knot-tied plastic containing suspected shabu and 16 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu.
One unit of a .45 caliber firearm with one magazine and seven pieces of live ammunition was also found.
Cataluña is facing charges for violations of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act./PN
