Ex-Marinduque lawmaker’s former driver nabbed on drug, gun raps

MANILA, Philippines - A businessman, who was a former driver of a former Marinduque lawmaker, was arrested on suspicion of possession of illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms in Sta. Cruz, also in Marinduque last week.

Police said Mark Dexter Anthony Preclaro, 46, alias Macoy, ranked NO. 12 in the target list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the region.

Superintendent Rogelio Ramos, Marinduque police provincial director, said charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition were filed against Preclaro, who used to work as a driver for former Marinduque congressman Allan Velasco.

Ramos led Marinduque policemen and PDEA agents in serving the search warrant at Preclaro's residence in Barangay Banahaw last Dec. 6.

Police said they recovered more than 18 grams of shabu with a street value of P120,000, drug paraphernalia, a 5.56 rifle, two .22 caliber rifles, four caliber 5.56 magazines and some live and blank ammunition.

“We’ve have been conducting surveillance of Preclaro for about three weeks until finally we were able to establish evidence, secure a search warrant from Manila Judge Theresa Estoesta, and conducted the raid,” Ramos told The STAR.