Drug raid nets kagawad, wife plus cache of firearms

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - A drug den, allegedly operated by a councilman (kagawad) of Barangay Pulao in Dumangas, Iloilo was raided by the police, which resulted also in his arrest and that of his wife and the confiscation of several guns and ammunitions.

Senior Inspector Charlie Sustento, officer-in-charge of the Dumangas Police, identified the two arrested suspects as 63-year-old Councilman Rolando Domejes Sr. and wife Jenny, 60.

Sustento said both suspects were placed under month-long surveillance prior to their arrest. The councilman, who is also the chairman of the barangay peace and order committee, has been warned earlier of his illegal activities but refused to, he said.

Domejes has been the number 2 in the list of suspected drug personalities, said Sustento.

Confiscated from the Domejes house were three sachets of shabu, seven plastic sachets containing shabu residue, buy-bust money of P500 and various drug paraphernalia.

On Wednesday night, neighbors of the Domejes household complained to the police about an alleged gun firing.

Also seized from the couple's house were six .45-caliber pistol magazines, one .45-caliber pistol with serial number F88-01774, firearm muffler, one black holster, three live ammunitions for a 12-gauge shotgun, 30 live ammunitions for a .45, ammunitions for M14 and M16 rifles, two live ammunitions for a .44 magnum, three fired cartridges from a .38 revolver, and cartridge cases of various firearms.

The two are now detained at the Dumangas Police Station and cases were filed against them, said Sustento, adding that Domejes was the fourth barangay official who were arrested in the town for illegal drugs.

Dumangas Mayor Rolando Distura congratulated the police for a job well done, saying that the arrest of Domejes would serve as another lesson to barangay officials involved in illegal drugs.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. earlier assured the safety and protection of all the barangay officials who would serve as 'tipsters' against illegal drugs activities.