Drug suspect killed, another nabbed in Iloilo

Pototan, Iloilo (Google maps)

ILOILO CITY—Police shot dead a suspected drug pusher and arrested another in a buy-bust operation in Pototan town in Iloilo on Monday.

Joven Castroverde was the 31st suspected drug personality killed in police operations in Western Visayas since the government’s massive campaign against illegal drugs started on July 1, 2016.

Senior Insp. Bonifacio Alabe, Pototan police chief, said Castroverde was shot dead around 11:45 a.m. at Barangay Jamabalud when he fought back against a team of policemen who posed as buyers of illegal drugs.

The policemen from the Pototan police station and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit arrested Castroverde after he handed over two plastic sachets containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth P20,000.

Policemen also arrested Castroverde’s companion identified as Jessica Sumido.

Castroverde was previously linked to robbery cases in the towns of Calinog, Dingle, Pototan and Passi City. He began operating in Pototan town two months ago, according to Alabe.

Since July 1, 2016, police have killed 17 drug suspects in Iloilo, 10 in Antique, two in Aklan and one each in Guimaras and Capiz provinces.

In the same period, 1,764 drug personalities were arrested and 20,498 others surrendered in Western Visayas, records of the Police Regional Office 6 showed.  SFM