OPERATIVES of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) arrested a high-value individual (HVI) and seized about P1.4 million worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust in Barangay Taal, Molo District, Iloilo City, at around 10:05 p.m. on March 31, 2026.
Police Colonel Wilbert Parilla, officer-in-charge of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), said the operation was conducted by CDEU operatives led by Police Captain Roque Gimeno III, in coordination with the Iloilo Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA), the ICPO SWAT Team, and the Iloilo City Police Station 4 – Station Drug Enforcement Team (ICPS 4 SDET). The operation resulted in the arrest of alias “Rod,” 40, single, jobless, and a resident of Barangay Boulevard, Molo District, Iloilo City.
Parilla emphasized the sustained campaign against illegal drugs, saying, “Whether during Holy Week or on ordinary days, the Iloilo City Police Office will not relent in its campaign against illegal drugs. To those engaged in this illegal activity, may this Lenten season serve as a time for reflection and change, in honor of the sacrifices of our Lord Jesus Christ for mankind. To the community, rest assured that ICPO will not let up in this pursuit to ensure your safety and security.”
Authorities confiscated 13 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets and three knot-tied plastic bags containing suspected shabu weighing about 210 grams, with an estimated Standard Drug Price (SDP) of P1,428,000. Also recovered were the buy-bust item, marked money, and several non-drug items.
The suspect is currently detained at ICPS 4 pending the filing of charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Leo Solinap)