A 52-YEAR-OLD municipal councilor in Babatngon, Leyte was arrested for possessing P240,000 worth of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) on Friday, July 3, 2020.

Police identified the suspect as Ceasar Bergula, married, councilor of Babatngon who has been listed as a high-value individual.

He was arrested in a joint buy-bust operation around 7:40 a.m. Friday in Barangay District 4, Babatngon.

Purchased from the suspect was one heat-sealed plastic sachet of substance believed to be shabu worth P5,000.

Confiscated from his possession were five large sachets of shabu with estimated street value of P240,000, and five pieces of P1,000 bills used as buy-bust money.

Markings and inventory of the confiscated pieces of evidence were conducted at the place of arrest in the presence of the suspect and witnessed by barangay councilor Alfredo Alde, Department of Justice representative Milo Corales, and dyVL-Aksyon Radyo Tacloban reporter Ryan Gabriel Arcenas.

On-scene inspection was conducted by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Eastern Visayas Director Gilbert Buenafe, police said in a report.

The operating units include the Babatngon Municipal Police led by Lieutenant Melvin Ay-ay, Leyte Provincial Police Office (LPPO)-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit led by Chief Master Sergeant Reneil Parama, LPPO-PIB headed by Lieutenant Colonel Demosthenes Magnaan, and PDEA-Eastern Visayas led by IA1 Joseph Padual.

The suspect will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (SunStar Philippines)