THE Iloilo Police Provincial Office (Ippo) arrested two high-value individuals (HVIs) and one street-level individual (SLI) in separate anti-drug operations across the province on June 5, 2025.
The operations led to the seizure of approximately 99 grams of shabu valued at P673,200 and an improvised firearm.
Police Colonel Roland Bulalacao, officer-in-charge of Ippo, praised the operatives and the public for their support in the fight against drugs.
“These achievements show our strong commitment and our firm pledge to ensure the safety and security of every Ilonggo. We're not backing down,” he said.
Bulalacao said they will intensify their operations and dismantle the drug networks that exploit their communities.
The first operation took place around 12:40 p.m. in the NHA Housing Project in Barangay Hamod, Batad, Iloilo, where alias Toto, 38, a laborer, was arrested by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Batad Municipal Police Station led by Police Captain John Predic Padilla.
A temporary resident of Barangay Hamod and originally from Barangay Amayong, San Dionisio, Toto had been under validation for nearly a month.
He allegedly sourced illegal drugs from Estancia and distributed them within Batad.
The operation yielded approximately five grams of shabu worth P34,000 and one improvised 12-gauge shotgun.
The suspect is considered a street-level individual and will be charged under Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013.
Later at 10:20 p.m., the SDET of Balasan Municipal Police Station arrested alias Ben-Ben, 46, a job hire employee of the Balasan local government, in Barangay Maya, Balasan.
Ben-Ben, a resident of Barangay Bayuyan, Estancia, had been under surveillance for nearly two months following reports of drug distribution in Balasan and nearby towns.
Authorities seized approximately 84 grams of shabu valued at P571,200.
Ben-Ben is classified as a HVI and is now facing charges under RA 9165.
Just 15 minutes later, at 10:35 p.m., another HVI, alias Zal, 39, a job order employee of Passi City, was apprehended in Barangay Imbang Grande, Passi City, by the SDET of Passi City Police Station.
Zal, a resident of Sara Road Street, Barangay Poblacion Ilawod, Passi City, had been under surveillance for four months. Police recovered approximately 10 grams of shabu worth P68,000. He is also facing charges under RA 9165.
All three suspects are in police custody. Their arrests are part of Ippo’s intensified campaign aligned with the “PRO6 On TOP” program initiated by Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, director of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas, and the directives of Philippine National Police Chief Major General Nicolas Torre III. (Leo Solinap)