Aklan PNP nets eight Boracay drug suspects in two months

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Eight suspects were arrested, including two women, by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Boracay Island in its intensified anti-drug campaign from January 1 to February 20.

P03 Christopher Mendoza, police community relations officer of Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC), said the suspects were detained at Aklan Rehabilitation Center in Kalibo, Aklan.

They were charged for violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

BTAC and the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (PAIDSOTG) led by Police Inspector Wilfredo Hofilena staged separate buy-bust operations to seize illegal drugs and assorted drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

Last February 16, Jaime Conanan, 29, of Barangay Kalobian, Roxas City, Capiz was apprehended in Barangay Balabag in a buy-bust operation. Recovered from his possession were two sachets of heat-sealed transparent sachets of suspected shabu and marked money.

Paulo Sison, 28, and his 32-year old live-in partner Maricris Pesarte from Barangay Padasan, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro were also nabbed by police operatives last February 9 in a sting operation in Sitio Manggayad in Barangay Balabag.

Seized from them were seven plastic sachets of shabu and marked money.

Last February 8, Jose Pacete, 22, of Bugasong, Antique was also arrested with a plastic sachet of shabu.  

Last January 26, Lucy Mae Suarez, 25, of Valladolid, Negros Occidental was nabbed by the operatives with five sachets of suspected shabu in Sitio Cagban in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.

Also arrested in the anti-illegal drug campaign were 18-year old Junary Dongon from Masbate; Denmark De Jose, 22, from Altavas, Aklan and Greg Iballa, 21, from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.