By Jennifer P. Rendon
Three persons who were previously imprisoned for separate criminal charges were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of Jan 10, 2021 at Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
Police identified the suspects as Efren Tugado, 46, of Barangay Bonifacio, Arevalo; Ace Segura, 34, of Barangay North Avanceña, Arevalo; and Jhone Pedilla, 28, of Zone 5, Barangay North Boulevard, Molo.
Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RPDEU-6) and Iloilo City Police Station 6 (ICPS-6) arrested the trio who were selling a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP19,500.
When frisked, they yielded around 65 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP455,000.
Tugado was incarcerated for 13 years at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) for homicide and illegal possession of firearm. He was released on parole a few years back.
Segura and Pedilla were both arrested for illegal drug offenses in 2017 and 2016, respectively. They were released from jail after plea bargaining agreements.
Lieutenant Glen Soliman, RPDEU team leader, said they transacted with Tugado and Segura to buy shabu.
The duo allegedly employed Pedilla to do the legwork for them by driving customers to their meeting place.
Tugado was the one who had a direct contact to a supplier at the NBP. He allegedly got his supply from Roxas City, through his contact at the “Munti”.
Soliman said they got wind of the suspects’ alleged illicit trade which led to the operation.
“We have been monitoring suspects who availed of plea-bargaining agreements, as some of them usually returned to their old ways,” he said.
The three suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
