By Jennifer P. Rendon
Three suspects were arrested, while another remains at large, following a series of anti-illegal drug operations in Tigbauan, Iloilo, on the afternoon of August 12.
The arrested suspects were identified as Jerric Grey Gegato, 35, of Barangay 4 Poblacion, Tigbauan; Michael Tidor, 36; and his nephew, Von Louel Queque, 22, both of Barangay Napnapan Norte, Tigbauan. A certain Noriel Navarro, also known as “Boy Amo,” evaded arrest.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), in collaboration with the IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) 6, Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 6, Iloilo Maritime Station, 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, and NAVFORCEN-NISG6, conducted an operation against Gegato around 2:45 p.m. on Monday in Barangay Bagumbayan.
Gegato allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for P14,000.
Upon frisking, authorities recovered eight more sachets and two knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu, two digital weighing scales, three glass pipes, four lighters, and several non-drug items.
Major Harold Rendora, IPPO-PDEU chief, stated that the seized drugs weighed approximately 180 grams, with a standard drug price of P1,224,000.
During his arrest, Gegato implicated Tidor as his source.
“We immediately hatched a plan to arrest Tidor,” Rendora said.
A buy-bust operation was subsequently conducted around 4:58 p.m. in Barangay Napnapan, Tigbauan.
Tidor, accompanied by Queque, called Navarro to supply the additional drugs needed to complete the transaction.
Police arrested Tidor and Queque after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P14,000. However, Navarro managed to escape as police operatives moved in.
Recovered from Tidor were five sachets and a knot-tied plastic pack of shabu, while another sachet was found in Queque’s possession.
Rendora noted that both Gegato and Queque are on their target list of suspected drug personalities.
They were monitored for allegedly trading drugs in Tigbauan and the neighboring towns of Oton, Guimbal, San Miguel, and Alimodian.
All four suspects will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
