Another brgy chief caught in drug bust

CONCEPCION, ILOILO, Philippines — Another barangay captain was arrested following a buy bust operation at this town in Iloilo  Monday evening.

Members of the Concepcion Police caught Rhodney Villarias, 36, of Brgy. Niño of this town, after allegedly selling a sachet of shabu to a police poseur buyer. He reportedly yielded about 2.5 grams of shabu, a weighing scale and shabu paraphernalia.

Senior Insp. Fernan Limbungan, chief of Concepcion Police, said the suspect denied peddling shabu but admitted that he was using illegal drugs.

Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas, director of Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), said Villarias’ arrest should make the electorate ponder on the next leader that they would choose. “As barangay officials, they should be the focal persons in our campaign against illegal drugs,” he said.

Under the law, the barangay chairman is the head of the Barangay Drug Abuse Council (BADAC), with the chief tanod serving as its executive officer.

Last July, a barangay captain and two tanods were arrested in a raid at a suspected drug den in Ledesma Street in Poblacion of Pototan town in Iloilo.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6 operatives collared Barangay Chairman Bram Pimentel, 44, of Guinacas village; Pastor Pastolero, 45, chief tanod, and Nestor Baging, 44, a tanod of Cato-ogan village.  —(FREEMAN)