Agusan pols’ kin nabbed in drug raid

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – A relative of Agusan del Norte 2nd District Rep. Erlpe John Amante and Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. and two others were arrested during a raid on a suspected drug den in Butuan City on Thursday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Caraga director Erwin Ogario said Tristan Bual Amante, 36, was nabbed in Purok 6-A, Barangay Ba-an Kilometer 3. 

Ogario said the suspect’s sister, April Amante, is the human resource management officer at PDEA-Caraga.

“Whether a relative of a PDEA personnel and powerful politicians…PDEA will not hesitate to arrest them,” he said. 

Eduardo Mercado, 46, and Mirochel Jovita Valenzuna, 38, both Butuan City government employees, were also arrested.

Ogario said the raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by Butuan City Regional Trial Court Judge Godofredo Abul.