A FORMER barangay councilor of Tulay, Minglanilla and considered as second of the town's high-value drug targets was arrested after he was caught selling and keeping illegal drugs inside his house earlier this morning, October 4.
When police arrested him, Melchor Secuya, 54, yielded one big pack and six small packs of suspected shabu.
Secuya's arrest was conducted after an initial drug bust at around 5 a.m. then through a legal search inside his house at 7 a.m.
But Secuya denied owning the drugs recovered by the police, claiming it was planted by operatives.
Chief Inspector Verniño Noserale, Minglanilla police chief, told SunStar Cebu that they initially conducted a sting operation on Secuya after receiving intelligence reports that he has been selling illegal drugs in the area.
"We received reports that he (Secuya) has been selling illegal drugs after he lost his bid to run for a higher village post last May," Noserale said.
Secuya ran for village chief last May but was lost by incumbent Tulay village chief Joe Romulus Laput.
When Noserale and his team confirmed transaction with Secuya, they immediately arrested him.
A small pack of suspected shabu worth P1,000 and a P1,000 buy bust money was recovered from Secuya.
After the buy-bust, Noserale and his team implemented a search warrant issued Regional Trial Court (RTC) Naga City Assisting Judge Dennis Larrobis last September 27.
Noserale said the warrant was issued after they conducted two successful "test buys" on Secuya last month.
During the search, police found the other packs of drugs at the second floor of Secuya's house.
A .35 caliber pistol with three bullets were also recovered.
But Secuya, in a separate interview, denied owning the drugs.
He told SunStar Cebu that before the search warrant was issued, he saw a civilian, whom he believed to be a police assistant, enter his house.
Secuya alleged police were trying to plant drugs on him.
But Secuya admitted that he often use illegal drugs whenever he officiates basketball games as a referee.
Laput, in a separate interview, said they have been receiving reports of Secuya's involvement as an illegal drug pusher even when he was still a councilor.
Noserale said that Secuya's operations included not just Barangay Tulay but other barangays namely: Calajoan and Tungkop.
He said he is trying to determine who is Secuya's illegal drug source.
Secuya will be charged for illegal possession of firearms, and selling of illegal drugs.