BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – An ex-convict was apprehended on Tuesday during a police antidrug buy-bust operation in Zone 2, Barangay Baldoza, La Paz district.
Rex Dela Peña previously served a prison sentence for a murder conviction in 2010 and was released in 2018. Alongside him, Jay Jalleto, a local resident, was also arrested.
The suspects had been under surveillance for three weeks. This followed complaints from citizens, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez, the head of the Iloilo City Drug Enforcement Unit.
Barangay residents had grown suspicious after noticing frequent nighttime visitors who would enter the suspects’ premises, turn off the lights, and leave shortly after. These observations prompted increased scrutiny by the authorities.
During the operation, cops seized 145 grams of suspected shabu valued at approximately P986,000.
Initial investigation revealed that these were sourced from the New Bilibid Prison.
Dela Peña and Jalleto were taken to the La Paz police station. Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act would be filed against them./PN
