By: Jennifer P. Rendon
An alleged underling of the once formidable Prevendido Drug Group was arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation in Mandurriao, Iloilo Thursday morning.
Janibal Estrellas, 40, was arrested at his place in Barangay Hibao-an, Mandurriao around 11:30 a.m. of Thursday.
Police Major Marlon Valencia, Mandurriao police chief, said the suspect used to work for the group but has been trading on his own following the neutralization of the group’s leader,
Estrellas was considered a high-value target (HVT) level 1 drug personality.
“He operated on and off. We believe he’s getting his supply from Bacolod City,” Valencia said.
Recovered from the suspect were nine sachets of suspected shabu and P3,600 buy bust money.
He is presently detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Meanwhile three persons were arrested in separate but related anti-illegal drugs operations Wednesday evening in Iloilo City.
Members of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) first collared Nicole Richard Moreno in a buy bust operation at M.H. del Pilar Street, Molo district around 8:30 p.m.
Moreno, 28, a resident of Jereos St., La Paz district allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover cop for P5,500.
Moreno did not give RDEU personnel a hard time in pointing to his cohorts.
In a follow up operation, police arrested Jason Tribunal, 22, and Errol Laeioa, 32, both residents of Barangay Legaspi, City Proper district, Iloilo City.
They were caught selling suspected shabu at Legaspi village around 10:05 p.m.
But their other companion, a certain Romeo Tribunal, escaped and remains on the loose.
Romeo is allegedly the duo’s source of illegal drugs.
Anti-drugs police operatives seized illegal drugs worth P30,000 from the two suspects.
Meanwhile, Moreno admitted trading illegal drugs as a means of livelihood. He claimed to have a source from Barangay Banago in Bacolod City.
The three suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
