Two individuals apprehended, 2,782,000 pesos worth of methamphetamine (shabu) confiscated during a buy-bust operation in Iloilo.
Going Down in Pototan: A Major Drug Bust
Iloilo authorities nab two big-time drug suspects in early morning raid
In the pre-dawn hours of April 28, 2025, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) and its Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) struck a significant blow against the local drug trade with an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Cato-ogan, Pototan, Iloilo. The operation resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the confiscation of 115 grams of suspected shabu, worth a staggering P782,000.
The duo in question? Alias Brom-Brom, a 33-year-old, jobless, and High-Value Individual (HVI) classified as such due to his significant role in Iloilo's illicit drug scene, and alias Makoy, a 29-year-old, jobless Street-Level Individual (SLI). Both reside in Barangay Cato-ogan, Pototan, Iloilo.
The raid was executed by PDEU Team 2, supported by the Pototan Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), around 2:56 a.m. The suspects were nabbed as they tried to peddle one sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover officer.
The shockwaves of the raid sent ripples through the local drug network. Police Colonel Bayani Razalan, the Provincial Director of the IPPO, praised the operating teams for their diligence in the ongoing war on drugs.
"We relentlessly work to disrupt drug networks and protect our communities from their pervasive influence," stated Razalan. "We remain committed to combating the drug menace in Iloilo, ensuring a drug-free future for our citizens. I thank our fellow Ilonggos for their unwavering support and trust."
The search of the suspects' premises yielded incriminating evidence, including one sachet of suspected shabu (from the buy-bust), one large heat-sealed sachet, two regular heat-sealed sachets, and one small heat-sealed sachet of suspected shabu. Other non-drug items were also confiscated.
Following the operation, the suspects were taken into custody by the Pototan MPS and underwent medical examinations and booking procedures. They now face charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Alias Brom-Brom was identified as a key figure in the illegal drug trade in Pototan and Barotac Nuevo, with intelligence reports suggesting he sourced his supplies from Iloilo City. The estimated street value of shabu during the operation was approximately P6,800 per gram.
The investigation is being spearheaded by Police Senior Master Sergeant Ramon H. Baylon Jr., with Police Major Dadje B. Delima overseeing the PDEU. The wider campaign against illegal drugs in the Western Visayas Region is led by Police Brigadier General Jack L. Wanky, through the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) in Western Visayas.
While the operation in Barangay Cato-ogan marked a significant victory in Iloilo's battle against drugs, the war is far from over. Vigilance and perseverance remain vital in the relentless pursuit for a drug-free society.
Stay informed, stay safe, and stand united against the scourge of drugs.
- The anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Cato-ogan, Pototan, Iloilo, resulted in the arrest of two individuals, Alias Brom-Brom and Alias Makoy, who are significant figures in the local drug trade in the Philippines.
- The authorities confiscated a considerable amount of suspected shabu, weighing 115 grams, valued at approximately P782,000, during the raid in the general news category of crime and justice.
- Alias Brom-Brom, a High-Value Individual (HVI), was identified as a key figure in the illegal drug trade not only in Pototan but also in Barotac Nuevo, and intelligence reports suggest he sources his supplies from Iloilo City.
- The operation was executed by PDEU Team 2, backed by the Pototan Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), as part of the wider campaign against illegal drugs in the Western Visayas Region.
