Barangay official arrested in Antique drug bust

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An elected barangay official was arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation on the morning of September 15 in Belison, Antique.

Barangay Kagawad Joseph Regida, 49, was apprehended in Barangay Ipil, Belison, where he resides.

Members of the Belison Municipal Police Station, along with the Antique Police Provincial Office – Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (APPO-PDEU) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Antique provincial office, arrested Regida after he allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for ₱1,500.

Authorities recovered five additional sachets of suspected shabu, ₱1,212 in cash, a blue lighter, ammunition for a .45-caliber pistol, a mobile phone, a motorcycle, and other non-drug-related items.

The seized drugs weighed around four grams with an estimated value of ₱26,000.

Regida is currently detained and will face charges for violating Sections 5 and 11 of Article II of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.