FOR allegedly possessing illegal drug paraphernalia, a barangay kagawad was arrested in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, September 9.

Lt. Dennis Melgarejo, deputy police chief of Kabankalan City identified the suspect as Cyrell Castañares, 40, of Barangay Dancalan in the province’s Ilog town.

Melgarejo said Castañares, who was riding a motorcycle driven by his unnamed companion, attempted to evade their police checkpoint but failed when their vehicle malfunctioned.

He said that Castañares, who was acting uneasy and suspicious, alighted from the motorcycle and threw something on the ground.

When checked, the police saw an improvised glass tooter and improvised plastic straw scoop with traces of suspected shabu, police records showed.

Other items reportedly recovered from Castañares were an improvised aluminum canister and a disposable lighter.

Melgarejo said that Castañares and his companion alleged that they decided to return after they failed to buy medicine.

He said that Castañares can be considered a newly-identified individual, although he has no record of engaging in any illegal activity in the barangay or police station.

Melgarejo said that Castañares’s companion was not arrested and only received a citation ticket as nothing was recovered from him while his motorcycle was impounded.