By Jennifer P. Rendon
The recent confiscation of a large volume of illegal drugs in Iloilo should not be a cause for alarm, according to Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief.
He made the statement following a series of anti-narcotics operations that yielded millions of pesos worth of illegal drugs, particularly shabu.
“The reason we are seeing these accomplishments is that we have intensified our operations. We are focusing our efforts on supply reduction,” Wanky said.
He added that authorities have been receiving valuable intelligence from sources across the region.
“We are acting on this information. So far, the reports we have received have been reliable, leading to the arrest of drug personalities,” he said.
Wanky also acknowledged the possibility that the volume of illegal drugs being smuggled into the region has increased.
“Based on our monitoring, these individuals are attempting to flood the market with shabu,” he said, adding, “They want to restore the previous situation where drug addiction was rampant.”
He noted that such a plan is not difficult to execute, as shabu production requires minimal capital.
Despite the ongoing crackdown on illegal drugs, “it seems like shabu never runs out,” he said.
The region’s porous coastlines pose a challenge for authorities in preventing the entry of illegal drugs.
“That is why we have enlisted the help of fisherfolk and Bantay Dagat members in our campaign against illegal drugs,” Wanky said.
Recently, authorities seized more than PHP13.6 million worth of suspected shabu in separate anti-drug operations in Iloilo province.
The operations resulted in the arrest of three suspects, all of whom had previous drug-related offenses.
They were identified as alias Jerson, 40, of Barangay Dulonan, Pilar, Capiz; alias Brother, 35, of Barangay Zone 2, Poblacion, Estancia, Iloilo; and his live-in partner, Rogielyn, 27, of Freedom Blvd., Barangay Mambulak, Silay City, Negros Occidental.
Jerson was arrested at 8:40 p.m. on March 10 in Barangay Kinalkalan, Balasan.
He was found in possession of approximately 890 grams of shabu, valued at PHP6.05 million.
Meanwhile, Brother and Rogielyn were arrested at around 4:45 a.m. on March 11 in Barangay Bulaqueña, Estancia.
Police seized 1.12 kilograms of shabu from them, with a standard drug price of PHP7.62 million.
On March 10, another couple was arrested in Molo, Iloilo City, with shabu worth PHP1.02 million confiscated from their possession.
Additionally, two people were arrested in an anti-drug operation on the afternoon of March 4 in Molo district.
Authorities recovered 1.1 kilograms of shabu worth PHP7.48 million from them.
