Authorities seized an estimated P3.3 million worth of suspected “shabu” and an illegal firearm in a major buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of eight individuals, including two high-value individuals (HVIs), in Barangay Botongon, Estancia, Iloilo, Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 29.
Police identified the two HVIs as Onasis Henova Beria, alias “Tate,” 40, jobless, and Joshua Ataniso Opiniano, alias “Toto,” 26, a tricycle driver, both residents of Barangay Botongon. Tate is listed on the drug watch list of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Also arrested during the operation were six street-level individuals (SLIs):
▪️”Nene,” 34, jobless, resident of Brgy. Botongon, Estancia;
▪️”Billy,” 21, jobless, resident of Poblacion, Carles;
▪️”Nonoy,” 48, laborer, resident of Brgy. Pa-on, Estancia;
▪️”Victor,” 26, fish vendor, resident of Brgy. Tacbuyan, Estancia;
▪️”Cora,” 44, jobless, resident of Brgy. Bolaqueña, Estancia; and
▪️”Seping,” 42, fish vendor, resident of Poblacion Zone 2, Estancia.
The joint operation, conducted around 2:10 p.m., was launched by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) Team 3 of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) in coordination with the PDEA-6, Regional Intelligence Division (RID-6), Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU-6), and the Estancia Municipal Police Station (MPS).
According to law enforcement reports, the bust was the culmination of weeks of sustained intelligence collection, surveillance, and target validation.
An undercover operative successfully purchased one heat-sealed sachet of suspected shabu from the targets using P13,000 in marked buy-bust money.
Upon completion of the transaction, backup officers immediately moved in to place the suspects under arrest.
A search incidental to the arrest yielded approximately 495 grams of suspected shabu contained in three large heat-sealed plastic sachets and five regular-sized sachets, along with non-drug-related items.
Operatives also recovered a homemade 9mm caliber revolver loaded with three live rounds of ammunition from the scene.
The mandatory inventory and marking of evidence were conducted on-site in strict compliance with Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
The suspects are currently detained at the Estancia MPS and will face formal charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165 and Republic Act No. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
Police officials emphasized that the operation severely disrupts the illegal drug supply network extending across the Fifth District of Iloilo province and adjacent areas in Capiz province.
Follow-up intelligence operations are ongoing to identify suppliers and sub-networks connected to the group.IMT
