BY MAI LADIAO
ILOILO City – Police operatives in this city relentlessly carried out anti-illegal drug operations amid the Holy Week, resulting in the seizure of more or less 637.50 grams of suspected shabu valued at P4,335,000.
From March 25 to 31, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) carried out six buy-bust operations.
Consolidated data from the ICPO further showed that these resulted in the recovery of 317.5 grams of shabu with a total standard drug price (SDP) of P2,159,000 and the arrest of six suspects.
Below is the breakdown of confiscations per police station:
* Police Station 1 – 62 grams for P421,600 SDP
* Police Station 2 – 3.5 grams for P23,800 SDP
* Police Station 3 – seven grams for P47,600 SDP
* Police Station 4 – 20 grams for P136,000 SDP
* Police Station 5 – 225 grams for P1,530,000 SDP
Meanwhile, the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) conducted two buy-bust operations, seizing shabu worth P2,176,000 based on SDP. Two suspects were also collared.
To recall, the twin drug sting operations on Good Friday, March 29, led to the arrest of three suspects. They were identified as Rodney Tabangcura, 33, of Dumangas, Iloilo; his alleged associate Kenneth Dave Arguelles, 27; and alleged courier Rio Jay Blasa, 18, of Molo district.
Tabangcura was cornered at approximately 5:30 p.m. in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao, while Arguelles and Blasa were arrested around 10:55 p.m. in Barangay Buhang Taft-North, Mandurriao.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) managed to arrest seven drug suspects during Holy Week.
According to Police Major Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, the seven were apprehended in six drug operations from March 25 to March 31.
Additionally, they seized 69 grams of shabu valued at P470,000 based on SDP.
Araño said that under the leadership of IPPO director Colonel Ronaldo Palomo, Iloilo province’s police forces did not rest in monitoring drug-pushing suspects, demonstrating their commitment to the campaign against illegal drugs./PN
