AN INCUMBENT village chief in Misamis Oriental, two government employees and eight others were arrested in separate anti-illegal drug operations by the police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, Friday, August 18.
Authorities arrested Arnel Abecia, 30, barangay chairman of Kauswagan, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental, along with his brother Nestor Abecia, and two others identified as Ruben Saberola and Ramil Relegaño at 4 p.m. Friday.
Seized from the suspects’ possession were about 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or ‘shabu’ worth around P60,000 and other drug paraphernalia.
Senior Inspector Corinne Mae Estigoy, spokesperson of the provincial police office, said the village chief was considered a high value target in the illegal drug trade.
Estigoy said the barangay chairman also came forward in the police’s Oplan Tokhang but still actively involved in the illegal drug activities.
Authorities are still investigating the drug links of the village chief executive.
“Galisod gyud ang police og penetrate kay gaka-burn out man kung mag-operation kay kaila man niya daan ang mga police maong nagpatabang ta sa PDEA,” Estigoy said.
Meanwhile, a nurse, a soldier and five others were also arrested by the joint drug bust operation of the police and PDEA in Sumpong village, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, past midnight, Friday.
Authorities identified the drug suspects as Geoff Augustus Silabay, a provincial nurse in Bukidnon; 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Rey Aranggo, presently assigned at the 7th Infantry Division in 4th Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; businessman Lorenzo Victor Aldeguer, farmer Roger Hernandez, seaman Shinray Dumaguit and students Maria Lourdes Valencia and Juliet Jane Cruspero.
Authorities seized from the suspects a rectangular container, five sachets of suspected shabu, nine unsealed cellophane containing traces of suspected shabu residue and various empty sachets and other drug paraphernalia.
Police are investigating the illegal drug activities of the suspects and their possible links in the illegal drug trade.
The anti-narcotics agency is set to charge all drug suspects with violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165).