THE Station Drug Enforcement Teams (SDET) of the Oton and Cabatuan Municipal Police Stations (MPS) in Iloilo province arrested three high-value drug suspects in two separate buy-bust operations that led to the seizure of illegal drugs worth more than P1 million on May 2 and 3, 2025.
Police Colonel Bayani M. Razalan, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (Ippo), commended the operations.
"Bug-os ko nga ginadayaw ang kapisan kag dedikasyon sang aton mga operatiba, ilabi na gid ang ila madasig nga paghulag batok sa ilegal nga ginahimo ni alyas 'Onyok.' Daku man ang akon pagpasalamat sa pagsalig kag suporta sang aton pinalangga nga mga Ilonggo sa pagtapna sang ilegal nga droga. Ang pagkadakop sini nga suspetsado isa na naman ka pagpamatuod sang aton padayon nga pagtinguha nga mangin malinong kag hilway sa droga ang probinsya sang Iloilo," Razalan said.
(I fully commend the courage and dedication of our operatives, especially their swift action against the illegal activities of alias Onyok. I am also very grateful for the trust and support of our beloved Ilonggos in the fight against illegal drugs. The arrest of this suspect is another proof of our continuing effort to make Iloilo a peaceful and drug-free province.)
Razalan praised the successful operation against illegal drugs in Cabatuan, expressing gratitude to the people for their support in providing information leading to arrests.
He warned those involved in illegal acts to stop and face the full consequences of their actions, emphasizing the importance of law enforcement.
In the first operation, SDET operatives from the Oton MPS arrested a newly identified high-value drug suspect, alias Onyok, during a buy-bust operation at around 5:55 a.m. on May 2 in Barangay San Nicolas, Oton, Iloilo.
Police seized approximately 100 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P680,000.
The 44-year-old laborer, a resident of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Arevalo, Iloilo City, had been under surveillance for two weeks after concerned citizens reported his illegal drug activities.
Investigators said he sourced his supply from Iloilo City. Alias Onyok is now in police custody and will be charged with violating Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In a separate operation at around 5:50 a.m. on May 3, the SDET of Cabatuan MPS conducted a buy-bust in Barangay Janipaan Olo, Cabatuan, which led to the arrest of another high-value individual (HVI), alias Kit-Kit, 50, and his live-in partner and cohort, alias Nisa, 43.
Both suspects live in the same barangay where they were arrested.
Police recovered around 60 grams of suspected shabu worth P408,000.
The suspects had been under police watch for three weeks after tip-offs from residents in Cabatuan. Authorities revealed their operations extended to neighboring municipalities, including Janiuay and Mina, and their drug source was also traced back to Iloilo City.
Police also confirmed that alias Kit-Kit had previously surrendered to authorities in 2016 under a drug reform program. Both suspects are now under Cabatuan MPS custody and will face similar charges for violating RA 9165. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)