A HIGH-VALUE individual was arrested, and approximately 890 grams of suspected shabu, valued at P6,052,000, were seized in a buy-bust conducted by the Balasan Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Barangay Kinalkalan, Balasan, Iloilo, at around 8:40 p.m. on March 10, 2025.
Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) Director, Police Colonel Bayani Razalan, commended the operation, stating that it demonstrated the police force’s dedication to eradicating illegal drugs.
“This arrest is a testament to the unwavering dedication of your Ilonggo cops in the fight against illegal drugs. I commend the Balasan Municipal Police Station for their outstanding performance," he said.
Razalan also warned those involved in the drug trade that their time is running out, urging them to surrender or face the full force of the law.
The suspect, identified as alias Jopet, 40 years old, single, and a fighting cock handler from Barangay Dulonan, Pilar, Capiz, had been under surveillance for six months.
Authorities said he sourced illegal drugs from Iloilo City and distributed them in Carles, Balasan, and other towns in northern Iloilo, as well as in Pilar, Capiz, and neighboring areas.
The IPPO remains committed to its intensified anti-drug operations, working closely with the community to ensure a safer, drug-free Iloilo province.
The suspect, who was previously arrested for the same offense in 2016, is now in the custody of the Balasan MPS, facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)