Illegal drugs worth approximately P2.3 million were confiscated from a couple who accused an officer of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to be the source of supply.

The Iloilo City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) seized from the suspects illegal drugs that weighed 350 grams in a buy-bust operation at Barangay Balantang, Jaro District on April 2, 2025.

The suspects were identified as Hazel Losare, 36 years old, classified as a high value individual (HVI), and her live-in partner, Jose Ariel Brito, 41 years old.

According to CDEU, they received information that several persons would hang out in the house of the suspects. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the couple is involved in the illegal drugs trade.

However, according to barangay officials, they have no monitoring done on the illegal activity of the couple and that the two are not registered in the said barangay.

“Dayo lang naman sila dito sa Balantang. Hindi yan sila residente ng 7^th Street kungdi sa Evelyn Manor subdivision,” said Balantang Barangay Chairman Allan Jastia.

The suspects accused that the supply of illegal drugs is from a BJMP officer in Dumangas town, Province of Iloilo.

“Verification and validation pa lang kung totoo. Isang BJMP officer, tinitingan pa namin,” said Capt. Ryan Christ Inot, head of the Iloilo City DEU.

BJMP 6 conducted immediately an investigation on the accuse officer of the Dumangas District Jail.

“Ang alleged na personnel was already pina-report na namin sa regional office with the restrictive status upang hindi ma-impluwensiyahan ang ico-conduct nating investigation,” Jail Inspector Juniven Umadhay, BJMP 6 spokesperson, said.

It was observed that huge amounts of illegal drugs were seized since March 2025, but confiscation was conducted via police operations, and not by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA).

“Patuloy naman ang operations namin kaso ang naririnig ng lahat mostly nandiyan lang kami sa operation. But we do have advocacies as well nagco-conduct kami ng seminars,” according to Atty. Bomrad Soc Abonado, PDEA 6 legal officer.