By Jennifer P. Rendon
Sachets of suspected shabu with valued at P595,000 were seized in a police anti-narcotics operation early morning of Jan. 23, 2020 in Leganes, Iloilo.
The confiscation led to the arrest of Isagani Basbaño, 47, of Barangay San Lucas, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo and his live-in partner Sheila Mae Alvarez, 33, of Barangay Boulevard, Molo, Iloilo City.
Police believed that the seized shabu was meant for Dinagyang Festival, which will culminate this weekend.
Members of the PNP Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU), together with Leganes Police Station, arrested the couple at Purok 5, Barangay San Vicente, the area where Basbaño wanted the trade to take place.
A police poseur-buyer bought a sachet of suspected shabu for P35,000.
Following their arrest, the couple yielded 16 more sachets of suspected shabu and the P500 marked money.
The RDEU team leader claimed that the two suspects are considered as street-level pushers.
They allegedly got their supply in “Munti,” which refers to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
“They haven’t started the distribution because the supply arrived several hours before the operation happened,” he said.
Presently, the shabu is sold at a minimum of P9,000 per gram.
Basbaño and Alvarez are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
