By Jennifer P. Rendon
A series of anti-illegal drug operations resulted in the arrest of four suspected marijuana pushers in Pavia, Iloilo.
Major Jojo Tabaloc, Pavia police chief, said the suspects belong to a network of marijuana peddlers operating in Iloilo province.
In only took police operatives two hours to collar the four suspects starting with Marc John Wendam around 4:40PM on January 7, 2021 at Barangay Aganan, Pavia.
The 27-year-old Wendam, a resident of Barangay Aganan, Pavia, was arrested after selling a sachet of suspected marijuana for PHP3,000.
Recovered from the suspect’s possession were suspected marijuana placed in five ziplocks with an estimated street value of PHP150,000, a digital working scale, and a mobile phone.
Tabaloc said the suspect is a newly identified drug personality. Police learned of his trade after the arrest of his downline.
The one kilo of marijuana had just arrived when police busted the suspect.
The supply came from Manila and was inserted inside the bag of ukay-ukay or used garments. The suspect paid his supplier through GCash.
Tabaloc said the suspect is deemed as one of the biggest suppliers of marijuana in Iloilo. After his arrest, he squealed his downlines.
Thirty minutes later, police collared Darius dela Cruz, 24, of Barangay Balabag, Pavia.
Recovered from his possession were 3 transparent plastic packs (including buy-bust item) containing dried leaves and fruiting tops of marijuana worth PHP3,000; the PHP1,000 marked money, an Android mobile phone, and a BMX bicycle.
Next to fall was Jelgan Catalan, 27, also a resident of Balabag village.
Catalan was arrested at 6PM after he also sold a sachet of suspected marijuana for PHP1,000.
Also taken from his possession were three plastic packs of marijuana leaves and fruit tops, a mobile phone, and a mountain bike.
At 6:40PM police arrested Jem Ligacion, 28, of Barangay Balabago Jaro, Iloilo City
Seized from his possession were two packs of marijuana worth PHP4,000, the PHP1,000 marked money, a mobile phone, and a mountain bike.
The four suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
