BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO & RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – A total of P5.2 million worth of shabu were seized, and 11 drug suspects were arrested in two days of police operations across Western Visayas.
The biggest haul was yesterday on Jayme Street, Barangay Luna, Jaro, Iloilo City.
Rene Aguilar Paches, 41, of Barangay Man-it, Passi City, and Jean Famucol Narciso, 29, of Barangay Aglalana, Dumarao, Capiz were tagged as high-value suspects.
They yielded more or less 570 grams with a standard drug price of P3,876,000.
This operation was conducted at 3:20 a.m. by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) 6 and the Iloilo City Police Office.
“Ang lalaki [Paches], kaagi na siya dakpan sa violation man sang Republic Act 9165 [Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act]. Napreso siya more or less apat ka tuig didto sa may BJMP [Bureau of Jail Management and Penology] Nanga, Pototan. Ang babayi [Narciso] naman, naga-hesitate siya sa paghambal sang iya background, daw indi pa willing mag-cooperate. Sila ni nga duha mag-live-in partner,” said Police Captain Glenn Soliman, team leader of RPDEU-6.
According to Soliman, the two supplied shabu in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo, and Iloilo City.
“We believed nga tag isa ka kilo dala nila kag daw sila ang medyo daku mag-dispose sa Capiz kag Iloilo. Ang nakuha naton basi part lang sang ila daku nga dala,” Soliman told Panay News.
Also yesterday, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office seized 74 grams of shabu worth P503,200 from Randy Lamera, 42, of Barangay Cabugao Norte, Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
He was arrested at 12:45 p.m. on Tupas Street, Barangay Poblacion, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
“Bisan taga-Santa Barbara sya pero diri sya naga baligya sa akon area [Pavia, Iloilo]. Daku na sya mag-deliver,” said Major Dadjie Delima, police chief of Pavia.
Delima added that Lamera is currently on parole and probation for his illegal possession of a homemade gun case.
His brother, Rey, was also detained at BJMP Nanga for illegal drugs.
Another huge operation was conducted in Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao, Iloilo City around 10:25 p.m. on July 31.
The 19-year-old Jypsy Almores, of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, had 55 grams of shabu worth P374,000.
In Bacolod City, another 55 grams of shabu worth P374,000 were also recovered from the two drug suspects.
The operation was carried out around 1 p.m. on July 31 in Henrietta Village, Barangay Singcang Airport.
Je An Treyes, 40, of Pleasant Ville, Barangay Taculing, and Christian Ison, 43, of Fiesta Homes, Barangay Sum-ag were detained in Police Station 8.
Meanwhile, P40,800 worth of shabu were seized from the five suspects in Barangay Isio, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, also on July 31.
Detained at the Cauayan Police Station were Jerome Perez, 28; Robinson Suerte, 34; Joemar Ibañez, 23; Evegen Talanquienes, 58; and Perey Peruello, 35. While Pancho Tabujara Jr. remained at large.
Police Regional Office 6 director Brigadier General Sidney N. Villaflor lauded the operating units for their high-impact accomplishments.
“Napakalaking bahala at dami ng shabu ang nawala sa supply chain. Panawagan po naming mga kapulisan sa lahat, huwag po nating sayangin ang ating buhay dahil sa iligal na droga o sa instant money na nakukuha natin dito. Mamuhay po tayo ng marangal na walang sinisirang pangarap, pamilya, at buhay. Magtulungan po tayo para sa ating mga kabataan, para sa kaayusan, at kapayapaan ng ating bayan,” Villaflor said.
SUPPORT BEGETS RESULTS
Mayor Jerry Treñas commended the ICPO. The buy-bust operation in Jaro district showed its zeal in the fight against illegal drugs, he said.
Treñas vowed to continue supporting the city police.
“We do this for the sake of the Ilonggos and our children. Congratulations, Police Colonel Jong Coronica and the personnel of the ICPO,” he said.
The city government since 2019 had poured P413,076,700 worth of assistance to the ICPO.
“A good peace and order situation will encourage more investments in the city because everyone feel safe,” said Treñas.
The city government was able to extend P54.1 million in assistance to the city police in 2019; P43.4 million in 2020; P59.4 million in 2021; P216.3 million in 2022; and P33.8 million in 2023, data from City Budget Office showed.
The support ranged from motor vehicles (police patrol cars); motorcycles; bicycles; firearms and ammunition; office supplies; trainings, seminars and travel expenses; allowances for police personnel; fuel, oil and lubricants; procurement of office equipment and furniture; repair and maintenance of transportation equipment; and rehabilitation or construction of police stations, among others.
“This is a priority. A safe city means more investments, which in turn means more jobs for our constituents,” stressed Treñas. (With a report from Glenda Tayona)/PN
