A former barangay captain was arrested yesterday, alongside an assistant, following a sting operation in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspect as 47-year-old Noemi Jablo, a level 2 high-value drug target, who previously served as Barangay Desamparados captain in Iloilo City’s Jaro district.

Her suspected runner, 30-year-old Alton Guijen, was also arrested.

Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) chief, Police Senior Inspector Kennith Bermejo, said they conducted a buy-bust operation at 4:30 p.m. where Jablo sold a 1/4 gram of suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer for P3,500.

The RDEU official said they had been monitoring Jablo over the past two weeks after receiving reports she has been staying with her runner in her store, which reportedly served as a drug den.

Following a search, the suspect yielded 10 additional grams of suspected shabu, valued around P120,000.

The two are currently detained at the Pavia Municipal Police Station./WDJ