By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two persons were arrested in a police anti-drug operation past 12 am of March 22 in Estancia, Iloilo.
Almar Antone, 29, of Barangay Paon, Estancia and Ivan Buenaflor, 31, of Barangay Daan Banwa, Estancia, were collared in a buy-bust operation at Purok 3, Barangay Bayoyan, around 12:05 a.m. Monday.
But their alleged “boss,” Michael Dan Andeza, a resident of Bayoyan village, escaped.
Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) Team 3, Estancia Police Station, and the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company mounted the operation against the suspects.
Lieutenant Glenn Soliman, RPDEU team leader, said Antone served as the group’s “runner.” He fetched the poseur-buyer and the confidential agent at the town plaza of Estancia and brought them to Buenaflor.
Soliman said it was Buenaflor who checked the P17,500 marked money.
After ensuring that the amount was complete, the two brought their buyers to Andeza.
Soliman said the transaction was completed, with the suspects giving out the sachet of shabu in exchange for the P17,500.
But as back-up police forces tried to inch closer to Andeza’s house, he saw them coming in and immediately fled.
The poseur-buyer and confidential agent managed to corner Antone and Buenaflor.
Soliman said Andeza’s house is strategically located and vehicles coming in would be noticed as far as 100 meters away.
Apart from the suspected shabu during the handoff, the suspects yielded 16 more sachets of the same item, P17,500 cash, and several non-drug items.
Soliman said the seized shabu weighed around 35 grams and valued at P238,000.
While the three could be considered as street-level pushers, their classification could be elevated to high-value individual drug personalities given the scope of their operation.
The group allegedly sourced their supply from Roxas City, Capiz.
Up until Monday, Antone and Buenaflor were never arrested for any offense.
Soliman said they are investigating reports that Andeza, an alleged fraternity founder, has a pending case.
The three suspects would be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
