ANTI-narcotics operatives arrested Wednesday, January 18, the alleged illegal drug supplier of self-confessed Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in a drug bust in Iligan City.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Northern Mindanao director Adrian Avarino said they arrested Lovely Adam Impal and her three companions in Pala-o village.
Authorities also arrested Impal's cousin Alvin Pamlian and close associate Farina Rato and recovered some 110 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" valued at P550,000.
Alvariño said Impal had been the subject of intelligence operations for a month prior to the operation.
Based on the intelligence information, Alvariño said Impal and her group allegedly distribute samples of new stocks of "shabu", prompting them to pursue the operation.
"Mayroon tayong (We have) informants and action agents na pinapasok sa grupo nila para magkaroon tayo ng entrapment operation," Alvariño said.
"Ang nangyari mag-distribute daw sila ng samples ng bagong stocks kaya pinasukan natin ng tao. Gusto natin malaman saan yung stocks na ito," Alvariño said.
Impal, tagged as the "drug queen of the south" and categorized as a member of a Lanao major drug group, had surrendered to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa early December last year, after Espinosa implicated her in Senate hearings as his source of illegal drugs.
While under the custody of the PNP-Anti-illegal Drugs Group, Dela Rosa said Impal provided them with vital information that could be helpful in the government's crackdown on illegal drugs.
But Alvariño said Impal's surrender did not absolved her of any criminal liability.
Alvariño said Impal allegedly has remained active in the drug business based on accounts of other drug suspects recently arrested by the anti-narcotics agency.
"May revelation ang mga suspek na nahuli natin last December na siya (Impal) ang tinuturong source. Nagpatuloy siya sa operation kaya nagsagawa tayo ng operation," Alvariño said.
Alvariño said most of their supplies are imported while locally produced supplies will be subject for further monitoring.
For her part, Impal denied allegations that she remains involved in illegal drug activities and belied PDEA's accounts that a drug bust occurred.
Impal said she is no longer engaged in illegal drug activities after her surrender to Dela Rosa.
"Nakakahiya naman po na nag-surrender na ako tapos may dala-dala pa akong ganong drugs. Di naman po siguro ako mag-iikot sa Iligan kung totoo yun (It's embarrassing, I already surrendered but I still carry with me those drugs. I don't think I'd go around Iligan if that [carrying drugs] was true)," Impal said.
"Di po ako nabilhan. Di ko alam saan galing 'yon, nagulat ako nang dumating sila at pinadapa ang mga panday ko habang gumagawa ng upuan para sa coffee shop ko," Impal said.
Alvariño said the arrested suspects will be temporarily detained at the PDEA-Northern Mindanao jail facility and will be charged for selling (section 5) and possession (section 11) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
