By Jennifer P. Rendon
More than PHP2 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate anti-narcotics operations in Iloilo City and province on Oct. 23.
The twin drug stings led to the arrest of four individuals and the recovery of 320 grams of suspected shabu.
The suspects were identified as John Obregon, 57, and his cousin, Ernielyn Reposar, 30, both residents of Barangay Desamparados, Jaro, Iloilo City; Ryan Hachanova, 40, of Barangay Democracia, Jaro, Iloilo City; and Lean Dublin, 20, of Barangay Tacbuyan, Estancia, Iloilo.
Obregon and Reposar were arrested in a buy-bust operation at 4:54 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Desamparados.
Members of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), together with operatives from Iloilo City Police Station 9, apprehended the pair after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP8,000.
Authorities recovered six more sachets, four knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu, and several non-drug items.
Captain Ryan Christ Inot, CDEU team leader, said the seized drugs weighed around 150 grams and were valued at PHP1,020,000.
Inot noted that Obregon had been previously arrested for drug-related offenses in 2018 and was released three years later.
Obregon allegedly employed his cousin as his drug runner.
Meanwhile, Hachanova and Dublin were arrested at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Tacbuyan, Estancia.
Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office – Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU) Team 3, along with personnel from the IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (IPMFC), and Estancia Municipal Police Station, arrested the two after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP5,000.
Five more sachets of suspected shabu were recovered from their possession.
Police reported that around 170 grams of shabu, worth PHP1,156,000, were seized from Hachanova and Dublin.
The four suspects are now in custody and will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
