2 arrested, P1.08-M ‘shabu’ seized in Sara, Iloilo buy-bust

TWO people were arrested in Barangay Pasig, Sara, Iloilo, on May 21, 2025, at 2:22 p.m.

About 160 grams of suspected shabu worth P1.08 million were confiscated during the buy-bust.

Police Captain Theodore Roosevelt B. Saboy, Sara Municipal Police Station (MPS) officer in charge, identified the suspects as alias Panoy, 34, a laborer, and alias Dan, 63, his father. Both reside in Barangay Pasig, Sara.

“The suspects were arrested after selling one sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer for P6,800,” Saboy said.

The Sara MPS conducted the anti-drug operation with support from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (Ippo) Provincial Intelligence Unit, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit – Team 3, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Western Visayas.

The operation resulted in the recovery of six sachets of suspected shabu, P6,800 in buy-bust money, a loaded caliber .22 revolver with two live rounds, and various non-drug paraphernalia.

According to Ippo Officer-in-Charge Police Colonel Roland Bulalacao, alias Panoy is a known high-value individual (HVI) previously arrested for drug violations and released on probation in 2023. Alias Dan is his alleged accomplice and father.

Bulalacao commended the operatives and thanked the Ilonggo community for their support.

“This arrest clearly demonstrates the IPPO’s firm resolve to dismantle illegal drug networks and safeguard the Iloilo community,” he said. Bulalacao stated they will relentlessly pursue drug offenders.

The Sara MPS Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) conducted surveillance and validation of the suspects’ activities for over a month following citizen reports. The suspects reportedly sourced illegal drugs from Manila and distributed them across Sara and neighboring towns.

An on-site inventory of seized items occurred with Barangay Kagawad Joelyn Biñas and Todo Media representative Francis Basco present. Both suspects were informed of their constitutional rights and the Anti-Torture Law in a dialect they understood.

They are detained at the Sara MPS and will face charges for violating Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).

The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) encourages the public to report suspicious drug-related activities. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)