By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two brothers and their companion were arrested in separate police anti-narcotics operations afternoon of June 27, 2020 in Pavia, Iloilo.
The Pavia Police Station simultaneously launched the buy-bust operations against Ivan John Fernandez, 29, and his brother Irven Fernandez, 25; and Benjie Cristales, 40, all residents of Barangay Jibao-an, Pavia.
Police Major Jojo Tabaloc, Pavia Police Station, said all suspects are street-level and newly identified “drug pushers.”
The Fernandez brothers were arrested 4:30 p.m. Saturday at their family-owned auto shop near their house.
The suspects allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover cop for P2,500.
After their arrest, police seized from their possession a black sling bag containing a wallet, a pouch, five sachets of suspected shabu with a street value of P80,000, and the P2,500 marked money.
Tabaloc said the brothers are both mechanics.
They have been under monitoring since last year, but police authorities learned that they have slowed with their alleged illegal trade when Iloilo was placed under enhanced community quarantine.
They continued with the trade after the ECQ was lifted. They allegedly got their drug supply from Bacolod City.
Thirty minutes after their arrest, police nabbed Cristales at the nearby Bangga Singko, also in Barangay Jibao-an.
The suspect allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for P2,000. Recovered from his possession were seven sachets of suspected shabu worth P25,000.
Tabaloc said Cristales also sourced his supply from the same distributor in Bacolod City.
The three suspects are now detained and would be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
