Cop's brother nabbed for drugs finally jailed

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  - Notorious drug suspect Carlo "Jong-jong" Balledos was finally brought to jail yesterday after three months of being in the hospital.

Still on wheelchair and steel braces on his right leg, Jong-jong, was discharged from the Iloilo Doctor's Hospital at 10:44 a.m. and was remitted to the court at the Iloilo Hall of Justice by the personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6.

Jong-jong is the brother of PO2 Allen Balledos who is assigned at the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion.

Wondering why Jong-jong remained confined in the hospital for so long, Regional Trial Court Branch 36 Judge Victor Gelvezon ordered PDEA-6 to remit him to court.

Immediately after the court determined he is fit to be jailed while waiting for the trial of his case, it issued a commitment order.

PDEA-6 personnel then turned him over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Jaro district for proper detention.

Reporters tried to interview Jong-jong's physician to know why he remained in the hospital for three months but the latter refused to give any statement unless permitted by his patient or his family.

Jail officers said Jong-jong will not be detained together with the other inmates because of his physical condition.

The accused was confined at the Iloilo Doctors Hospital since July 26 after he was shot in the leg and thigh for resisting arrest during a buy-bust operation conducted by anti-narcotics operatives.

PDEA-6 has classified Jong-jong as a notorious drug pusher in Brgy. Veterans Village of this city and has been under surveillance for quite a long time.

PDEA-6 legal counsel Ronnie Delicana said Jong-jong has been under the agency's watchlist of illegal drug personalities and considered a big-time drug pusher in the waterfront area.

Jong-jong is charged with violating Sections 5 and 6 for maintenance of a den, and Section 7 for possession of illegal drugs under the Anti-Illegal Drugs Law. He was also charged with attempted murder for using hollow-point bullets against the operatives.  (FREEMAN)