P41.3 million shabu seized in Bacolod, biggest haul in W. Visayas in 2024

INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY — Policemen seized 6,080 grams of shabu (methamphetamine) valued at P41.3 million in Barangay 35 here on Tuesday, August 13.

Capt. Glenn Soliman, chief of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit, said it was the biggest single drug haul seized in Western Visayas this year.

“The shabu was intended for sale in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and Iloilo,” he said.

Arrested was John Philip Dellomo, alias “Tol,” 28, who will face charges for selling and possession of illegal drugs, a violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

His father Lauro Ceralvo Dellomo, 52, and brother Barangay 35 chief tanod Ronel Mawa Dellomo, 36, were also arrested for obstruction of justice, Soliman said.

Soliman said Lauro and Ronel tried to prevent them from passing through when authorities were headed towards the house of John Philip.

“They also tried to maul and disarm a policeman,” Soliman said.

Soliman said they conducted surveillance operations following intelligence information that John Philip was engaged in the sale of drugs.

John Philip was arrested when he handed the 50 grams of shabu in exchange for the P60,000 buy-bust money on Tuesday night.

Recovered from John Philip were 6,080 grams of shabu, the P60,000 buy-bust money, a cellular phone, and a digital weighing scale.

READ: P9.2 million worth of illegal drugs seized in Bacolod

Soliman said John Philip disclosed that while he was jailed for a robbery holdup case in Bacolod for about two years, he met a drug personality who became his drug operations partner.

The robbery case was dismissed, which led to John Philip’s release from jail.

READ: Cebu City drug-bust: 3 men nabbed inside drug den