BY RUBY SILUBRICO & RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – Two drug suspects were arrested around 10 a.m. on Friday, May 19, during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion South, Oton, Iloilo.
Noel Ortega Jr., alias “Doldol”, 32, and Aron Dequiña, 40, both fish vendors and residents of the place, were taken to the Oton Municipal Police Station (MPS).
Police Major Fernand Limbungan, chief of Oton MPS, said Ortega and Dequiña were street-level individuals.
Sometime in 2016, Ortega surrendered to the police, said Limbungan. However, he was arrested in 2019 in a drug operation and released in 2021 after he availed a plea bargain.
“Ang ila ngalan naglutaw gid [in police monitoring] that is why nag-exert gid kita effort, bal-an man naton nga ang barangay wala ni nag pabaya sa ila pero bisan ano pa naton ka paandam kung ang pagbag-o indi buo sa ila kaugalingon amo man gyapon,” said Limbungan.
Five grams of suspected shabu, valued at P34,000, were recovered.
Ortega tested positive in a recent drug test conducted by the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC).
“Out of 30 listed drug pushers in their barangay, 15 were positive for drug use, and Ortega was among them,” Limbungan added. “Gina tagaan naton sila chance, halos tanan gina lay down ni naton sa programa man sang banwa. Ang tanan nga nag-positive with coordination sa PDEA ibalik ni sila sa Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner.”
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspects./PN
