A COUNCILOR of Barangay North Poblacion, City of Naga was arrested Wednesday night after he was caught carrying illegal drugs in a police checkpoint.
Kister Jan Cañares Abangan, 33, was onboard a motorcycle with Gerald Meneses Geonzon, 32, when they spotted local police and military personnel conducting a checkpoint in Barangay North Poblacion at 11 p.m.
Instead of stopping, Abangan sped on.
Police officers and military personnel were able to catch both men before they could escape.
When they frisked Abangan and Geonzon, police officers discovered five small packs of suspected shabu in their possession.
Both men were arrested and detained at the Naga Police Station.
Supt. Gregorio Galsim, City of Naga police chief, told SunStar Cebu that they are still trying to determine if Abangan is connected to a big-time drug pusher or is just a common user or pusher.
Poblacion Barangay Captain Renato Manabat said Abangan was a drug surrenderer.
Abangan, a last-term councilor, was a well-known drug user in the barangay but they didn’t receive any report that he sold drugs, Manabat added.
“Officials involve in any way with illegal drugs put all other decent officials and LGUs (local government units) in a very bad light,” said City of Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong.