By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two persons were arrested in an anti-narcotics operation evening of March 23, 2023 in Janiuay, Iloilo.
Police identified the suspects as Joffry Pari-an, 43, and Kevin John Madayag, 29, both residents of Don T. Lutero East, Barangay Siga-siga, Janiuay.
Pari-an, a carpenter, is an alleged drug user while Madayag, a meat butcher, is an alleged newly-identified drug personality.
Members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Iloilo province, together with Janiuay Municipal Police Station, arrested the duo in a buy-bust operation at Pari-an’s house.
Johnny Boy Ybañez, PDEA-Iloilo provincial officer, said that Pari-an was the target of the operation. He was caught in a pot session with Madayag during the operation.
Recovered during the operation were eight sachets of suspected shabu, a coin purse, buy-bust money, a tablet, and illegal drug paraphernalia.
The seized drugs weighed around 25 grams and was valued at P170,000.
Ybañez said both suspects have no previous criminal arrests although Pari-an surrendered through Oplan Tokhang. They have been on PDEA’s monitoring for several months.
PDEA validation indicated that Pari-an’s area of distribution covers Janiuay and neighboring municipalities.
Some drug pushers in Passi City even sourced their supply from him.
Pari-an will be charged for violation of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, and 12 Art. II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Madayag will be charged for visiting a drug den.
