CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Alleged drug queen Lovely Adams Impal was arrested on Wednesday morning in Pala-o, Iligan City after a drug buy-bust operation by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 10.
Impal was named by admitted drug lord Kerwin Espinosa as the source of the drugs he supplied in Eastern Visayas.
Impal then surrendered last Dec. 5, 2016 to Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, but was released after no case was filed against her.
However, PDEA-10 director Adrian Alvariño said Impal was arrested following intelligence works and the buy-bust operation.
“She was selling and giving samples of her stock of drugs in an effort to expand her networks and re-convince other pushers to go back to selling drugs,” Alvariño said.
Impal was arrested with her sister, Farina Paran Rato, and driver Alvin Macalangan Pamilian.
Evidence presented by PDEA showed a total of 110 grams of suspected shabu with a street value of P550,000 and P5,000 in marked money used for the buy-bust was recovered from Impal.
Based on the PNP intelligence matrix, Alvariño revealed that Impal is operating nationwide, facilitating drug transfers and running a supply-and-demand scheme.
Impal, however, denied her role in the buy-bust as she was presented to the media. Covered in a headscarf, Impal cried and said she was arrested inside her place in Iligan city.
“They just barged into my place and arrested me and my companions,” Impal said. “It would be a shame that I surrendered to General ‘Bato’ and would return again to drug pushing. No, I do not sell drugs anymore.”
Impal, Paran Rato and Pamilian are facing charges in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.