A BARANGAY councilor classified as a high-value target was collared by the authorities while a municipal councilor escaped during the implementation of a search warrant Friday, November 16, in connection with their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Davao Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 Director Marcelo Morales said Jessel Atay and Harold Mark Seteota were among those listed as Level 2 in President Rodrigo Duterte's drug watch list in Davao Occidental.
Atay is a municipal councilor of Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental while Seteota is a barangay councilor of Barangay Butulan, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
The operation was conducted through search warrants 18-95-JOW to 18-96-JOW for violation of Section 11, Republic Act 9165 issued by Judge Oscar Noel of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 38, Justice on Wheels (JOW), Sarangani Province.
"Our fight against illegal drugs chooses no one. Kahit sino ka pa, small- time o big-time, tutugisin namin kayo dahil kasiraan kayo sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng ating bansa," Morales said.
Seteota was arrested in his home. Allegedly recovered from his possession were six plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance of suspected shabu, or methamphetamine hydrochloride.
When the other team swooped down on the house of Atay, the suspect was able to elude arrest but drug paraphernalia consisting of four pieces medium-sized heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance of suspected shabu were found in his house.
Drug cases are being prepared for filing against the suspects through regular filing and inquest proceedings.