Chavit nabs 3 Britons, Australian for drugs

MANILA, Philippines - Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson on Sunday apprehended four foreign nationals in his Quezon City home for alleged illegal drug use.

The suspects have tested positive for drugs, according to Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano.

Police identified the suspects as James Gates, 22; Jack McLeod, 19; and Ross Barnaby McLeod, 18, all British nationals; and Arthur Murray Nash, 19, an Australian.

Albano said that Singson effected a “citizen’s arrest” as he caught the foreigners in the act of using drugs.

All four suspects were found positive for shabu use, according to QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao.

QCPD-Station 12 commander Superintendent Danilo Pecana said the four suspects were visitors at Singson’s house in Corinthian Gardens, Barangay Ugong Norte.

The governor arrived home at 7 a.m. from an out of town trip.

“I talked to the guard on duty and found out there were visitors who arrived as early as 5 a.m.,” Singson said.

He said he smelled fumes as he came closer to one of the rooms.

“When I opened the door, the people inside were all rattled upon seeing my presence and grabbed their things on the table,” he said.

He then called up Albano and sought police assistance.

Singson said the suspects reside in Casa Verde, Pasig City.

Seized from the suspects were illegal drugs, cigarette filters and other drug paraphenalia.

Assistant City Prosecutor Irene Resurreccion is conducting preliminary investigation on the drug charges filed against the suspects.