By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two employees of a courier company were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation late evening of Dec 10, 2020, at City Proper district, Iloilo City.
Members of Pavia Police Station collared Ronnie Balasico, 30, of Barangay dela Rama, and Patrick Silva, 36, of Barangay Monica, City Proper district.
Major Jojo Tabaloc, Pavia police chief, said they initially agreed to hold the trade at Barangay Ungka, Pavia, Iloilo.
But Balasico, the operation’s target, moved the meeting place to Barangay Ortiz near his home.
Tabaloc said the suspects sold two sachets of suspected shabu for P8,000 to a police poseur-buyer.
Following their arrest, the suspects yielded nine sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P27,200; the P8,000 marked money, an empty cigarette pack, two mobile phones, and P1,500 cash.
Tabaloc said other drug traders they arrested earlier pointed to Balasico as their source.
He also denied allegations of the suspects’ family that the two were forced inside a van before the drug sting.
“It was a legitimate buy-bust operation,” Tabaloc said, claiming they used a sedan during the drug sting.
Balasico and Silva are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
