Kin of Surigao lawmaker, mayor nabbed in drug raid

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Two men, said to be relatives of a congressman of Surigao del Norte and a municipal mayor, were arrested in a drug raid on Siargao Island last Friday.

Donald Tinio Tiu, 44, and Ely Ruaya Tiu, 38, reportedly relatives of Rep. Francisco Tinio Matugas and Mayor Yolly Ruaya of Dapa town, were arrested at a rooster farm reportedly owned by Donald, Inspector Joel Cabañes, chief of the Surigao City police’s anti-illegal drug unit, told The STAR.

Cabañes said he and Dapa police chief Inspector Elmer Ligalig led the raid in Barangay 1 Can-uyan based on a warrant issued by Butuan Judge Emmanuel Escatron.

The raiding team reportedly seized two packs of shabu, each weighing 10 grams; 10 plastic sachets said to contain five grams each and 57 plastic sachets said to contain a gram each.

Each gram of shabu is estimated to have a street value of P7,000.

Aside from shabu, the team reportedly recovered 11 bottles containing dried marijuana leaves, a caliber .45 pistol, a motorcycle, drug paraphernalia and P1,000 cash.

The Tius and the seized items were taken to the Dapa municipal police station as charges are being readied against them, Cabañes said.