By Jennifer P. Rendon
Police operatives arrested an electrician implicated in the illegal drug trade after a week of surveillance.
Roger Dejecacion, 41, a resident of Barangay Consolacion, San Miguel, Iloilo, was apprehended at around 12:44 a.m. on March 20 in Barangay Tanza Bonifacio, City Proper, Iloilo City.
At the time of his arrest, Dejecacion was staying at his live-in partner’s house in Tanza Bonifacio.
The arrest was conducted by members of the Iloilo City Police Station 1 (ICPS1), in collaboration with other police units and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Dejecacion was caught after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P12,100. The authorities also seized 17 additional sachets from him.
ICPS1 Chief Captain Roque Gimeno III disclosed that the confiscated drugs weighed approximately 57 grams, valued at a standard drug price of P387,600.
Although Dejecacion had no prior drug-related arrests, he was listed by the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) as an illegal drug personality in San Miguel.
He allegedly obtained his supply from the same distributor involved with five other suspects arrested on March 18 at Tanza Baybay, who were caught with shabu valued at P7.17 million.
Dejecacion now faces incarceration and will be charged with violating the Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In a related incident in Aklan province, another electrician, 27-year-old Japhet Tornalejo, alias “Japet” from Jaro, Iloilo, was detained after a drug sting operation on the morning of March 18 in Barangay Cabangila, Altavas.
The Altavas Municipal Police Station recovered a large sachet of suspected shabu, a cellphone, and P22,500 in buy-bust money during the operation.
Police Lieutenant Ryan Batadlan, Chief of Altavas PNP, reported, “We conducted a one-week monitoring with the assistance of other government agencies before finally apprehending the suspect.”
Further, he revealed the seizure of 11 more sachets of drugs with an estimated street value of P800,000 to P1 million.
It is believed that Tornalejo used his motorcycle to distribute drugs across neighboring provinces.
Post-arrest, he was taken for a medical examination at Altavas District Hospital and is now facing charges under Republic Act 9165.
The Altavas PNP is actively pursuing its campaign against criminality and illegal drugs, focusing on drug trafficking to guarantee the safety of their community. (With a report from Gerald CJ “Yuri” Moribus, Daily Guardian Intern)
