BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – Over half a kilo of suspected shabu valued at P3.5 million was recovered from two former convicts in a buy-bust operation in Zone 4, Barangay Poblacion, Santa Barbara town on Saturday morning, July 29.
Salvador Ruiz, 34, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City and Vanessa Buison, 36, of Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala, Iloilo City were live-in partners.
Ruiz served jail time at the New Bilibid Prison for homicide and was released last year, while Buison was imprisoned at the Correctional Institute for Women for illegal drugs and was released in February this year, according to Intelligence Agent 1 Alvin Clemente, team leader of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 6.
The couple moved to their boardinghouse only a few days ago. Residents became curious why they have many visitors.
“May confidential informant na lumapit sa atin at nagsabi na nag-transact siya sa mga subjects ng isang bulto,” Clemente said in an interview with DYRI RMN Iloilo.
The suspects were arrested after handing to a poseur buyer a sachet of suspected shabu for P14,500.
“Parang ang labas dito mga bodegero sila dahil indi pa na-process ‘yong suspected shabu, malalaki pa,” Clemente said, adding that the couple would have likely distributed these to Iloilo City, nearby towns in Iloilo province, and Bacolod City.
The suspects are now in the custody of PDEA-6. They face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
