Carcar City mayor's brother charged for drug peddling

CEBU, Philippines - A criminal complaint for drug selling has been filed against the younger brother of the Carcar City incumbent mayor and his live-in partner before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

Aquillo Barcenas, 40, who managed to elude arrest, and his live-in partner, Jewelyn Rentuma, were charged for the offense after police were able to confiscate illegal drugs from them weighing more than 30 grams during a buy-bust operation last April 22. Aquillo is the younger brother of Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas.

According to PO3 Armando Labora, an informant went to their office and reported about the ongoing peddling of drugs outside the Carmen Otik Pension House.

Undercover policemen were negotiating with Rentuma and Aquillo for the illegal drugs. It was Rentuma who allegedly approached the poseur buyer and later handed the marked money to Aquillo, who then got something from a bag and handed it to Rentuma.

But when the policemen moved in, Aquillo was able to notice them and ran to a nearby motorcycle and sped away. A policeman chased him and managed to grab his bag but the suspect was able to escape.

Labora said the bag contained eight packs of suspected shabu worth at least P240,000; a .45 caliber pistol; magazine with bullets, weighing scale and other drug sniffing paraphernalia.

Aside from the drug peddling charges, Aquillo is also expected to face charges of possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia, violation of election gun ban and illegal possession of firearm. — Jasmin U. Labaco/WAB