By Ruby Silubrico and Rhenjie Marie E. Calantas
ILOILO City – Around P1.438 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in separate drug buy-bust operations in Molo district here from July 21 to 22.
On July 22 at 2:15 a.m., high-value drug suspects Jejomar Pineda, 27, of Barangay Sto. Rosario-Duran here, and Michael Capero, 34, of Barangay Caingin, La Paz district, were arrested during a drug buy-bust operation at Compania Street, Barangay San Antonio, Molo.
They were collared by elements of the Regional Drugs Enforcement Unit (RDEU) of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) after selling P20,000 worth of suspected shabu to undercover personnel.
RDEU chief Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benetiz, Jr. said they recovered a total of 175 grams of illegal drugs valued at around P1.2 million from the suspects.
“They were classified as high-value individuals because Capera was arrested for drugs while Pineda possessed more than 50 grams of shabu,” Benetiz told Panay News.
Capera was once arrested and jailed at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Barangay Ungka, Jaro sometime in 2013. He was released in 2020.
Based on intelligence report, Capera and Pineda’s source of illegal drugs was in New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City through Pineda’s brother who was detained there for a drug case.
Earlier on Thursday, July 21, three drug suspects were arrested at Zone 3, Barangay Calumpang.
Molo Police Station’s Drug Enforcement Team confiscated seven sachets of suspected shabu weighing 35 grams and valued at around P238,000 from suspects identified as fish vendor John Patrick Tornia, 22, of Barangay Rizal Pala- Pala 1, City Proper; delivery rider Jarren Jet Birondo, 38, of Barangay Boulevard, Molo; and pedicab driver Patrick Hondrade, 23.
Authorities also confiscated five disposable lighters, digital weighing scale and other drug paraphernalia.
“Daku gid ni ang bulig sang aton concerned citizens kay sila gid ni nag-report kag gin-monitor man ini namon for almost a week kag it turned out nga positive gid man sila sa pagbaligya sang ilegal nga droga,” said Molo Police Station chief, Police Major Marlyn B. Roquero.
All five suspects are now detained, facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
