Woman, couple nabbed in Pavia drug stings

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Three persons were arrested in twin police anti-drug operations evening of March 23, 2021 in Pavia, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspects as Christine Marie Soropia, 33, a resident of Providence Subdivision at Barangay Balabag Pavia; and live-in partners Edjell Pauchano, 28, a taxi driver, and Lenie Guillergan, 37, both residents of Zone 3, Barangay Baldoza, La Paz, Iloilo City.

Members of Pavia Police Station first collared Soropia outside the subdivision where she lives around 9 p.m. Tuesday. She allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover cop for P1,500.

Police also seized from Soropia four sachets of suspected shabu worth P20,000, the P1,500 marked money, and an Android mobile phone.

Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, said a test buy was conducted on Soropia a day before the drug sting happened.

She allegedly used to source her supply – both for personal use and for sale – from a woman who worked as her part-time laundrywoman.

The supply allegedly came from Pauchano and Guillergan.

An undercover cop who pretended to be Soropia placed an order of shabu worth P6,000 via text message. The couple decided that they would personally deliver the shabu.

Gorero said it was Guillergan who got the money while Pauchano handed the 3 sachets of shabu.

Recovered from Pauchano were six sachets of suspected shabu worth P12,000, the P6,000 buy bust money, his P620 personal money, a mobile phone, and a wallet containing several identification cards.

The suspects are now detained at the lock-up cell of Pavia Police Station and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).