Major Drug Bust in Iloilo: Two High-Value Targets Arrested
In a significant blow to the illegal drug trade in Western Visayas, operatives from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) successfully arrested two high-value individuals in separate, meticulously planned buy-bust operations on November 24, 2025. The coordinated efforts led to the confiscation of a combined 475 grams of suspected shabu, a firearm, and ammunition, with the illegal drugs having an estimated street value in the millions of pesos.
Detailed Account of the Twin Operations
The first operation unfolded in Barangay Dawis, New Lucena, at 8:30 a.m.. Police from the New Lucena Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the IPPO Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit–Special Operations Group Team 1 apprehended a suspect known as alias Marj, 45, a resident of Mina, Iloilo. Authorities recovered from the suspect seventeen heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing approximately 55 grams of shabu, along with various non-drug items.
Later that day, at 6:04 p.m. in Barangay Aldeguer, Sara, a second operation resulted in the arrest of a more surprising figure: a Barangay Kagawad identified as alias Rey, 60. This operation was a joint force involving the Sara MPS, Provincial Drug Enforcement Team 3, Provincial Intelligence Unit, 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (IPMFC), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas. The seizure from this official was substantially larger, including twenty heat-sealed sachets and two knot-tied bags of suspected shabu weighing about 420 grams. Additionally, police confiscated a homemade 5.56 caliber pistol, ten live rounds of ammunition, and other non-drug evidence.
Legal Consequences and Official Commendation
Both suspects are now detained at their respective municipal police stations and are facing serious criminal charges. They will be charged with violations of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The penalties for these violations are severe, ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty and fines from P500,000 to P10 million. The barangay official, alias Rey, will also face an additional charge for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition under RA 10591.
Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, the regional director of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6), praised the operating teams for their success. He emphasized that the operation highlights the strong partnership between the Philippine National Police and the community. Ligan stated that this achievement reflects the dedication of police officers working to keep neighborhoods safe and the unwavering vigilance of citizens, reaffirming a shared commitment to a drug-free environment.
