Barangay captain arrested; PHP 6.4 million shabu seized

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Another village official was arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation conducted by police on the evening of Jan. 14 in Sara, Iloilo.

The suspect, identified only as “Matmat,” 39, the barangay captain of Tuble village in San Dionisio, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Devera, Sara.

Operatives of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office – Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), together with the Sara Municipal Police Station and the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, arrested Matmat after he allegedly sold shabu worth PHP 26,000 to an undercover operative.

Maj. Dadje Delima, IPPO-PDEU chief, said authorities seized about 955 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of PHP 6,494,000.

Delima said police began monitoring the barangay captain after receiving a complaint from a parent alleging that Matmat allowed the complainant’s son to associate with him and use illegal drugs.

Police said the suspect had allegedly been a drug user for some time.

Investigators said Matmat allegedly sourced illegal drugs from Estancia and distributed them in Sara and nearby towns in Iloilo province.

Matmat is now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Recent arrests

In recent weeks, police in Iloilo province have arrested several barangay officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

On Jan. 7, IPPO-PDEU operatives arrested the barangay captain of Janiuay town during a buy-bust operation.

The suspect, identified only as “Junjun,” 51, barangay captain of Barangay Canauili, Janiuay, was arrested with about 410 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 2,788,000.

On Dec. 29, 2025, Lambunao police arrested a barangay kagawad in a separate buy-bust operation.

The suspect, also identified as “Junjun,” 51, a barangay kagawad of Jayobo village in Lambunao, was found in possession of about 160 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 1,088,000.

A month earlier, another village official from Sara town was arrested in a similar operation.

The suspect, identified only as “Anton,” 60, a barangay kagawad of Castor village, was arrested in Barangay Aldeguer, Sara, on Nov. 25, with about 420 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 2,856,000.

A day before Anton’s arrest, police also apprehended “Ambok,” 52, the elected No. 1 barangay kagawad of Aquino Nobleza West in Janiuay.

Authorities seized about 65 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 442,000 from Ambok’s possession.