Hinigaran mayor’s brother-in-law nabbed for drugs

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A brother-in-law of Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo in Negros Occidental was arrested in a buy-bust at Barangay Anahaw Wednesday afternoon.

Police Major James Latayon, town police chief, identified the suspect as Hermino Sevilla, 47, of the said village.

Recovered by authorities from Sevilla were two sachets of suspected shabu weighing two grams worth P6,000, and the P7,920 cash, including the P500 marked money.

Latayon said Arceo ordered the arrest of Sevilla, after he recently learned about the suspect’s alleged engagement in illegal drug trade again.

He said Sevilla was previously arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for the same offense in a resort in the town in 2003.

“He (suspect) was given a chance to change, but he instead continued his illegal activity, which dismayed the mayor,” the police chief said.

Aside from the mayor’s report to the police, Latayon said they also received reports from concerned citizens about the illegal drug activity in the said village a month ago, which led them to identify Sevilla.

Latayon said Sevilla denied the accusations against him, claiming he is not engaging in the illegal drug trade.

Sevilla, who is detained at Hinigaran Municipal Police Station, will be charged for sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs.

In Kabankalan City, Regie Liper, 34, of Barangay 6, a drug surrenderer; and his companion Ronel Laberos, 32, of Barangay Guilungan, Cauayan town were arrested in a drug bust at Barangay 6 last Tuesday.

Police confiscated from the two suspects 14 sachets of suspected shabu worth P420,000, and P1,521 cash.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Jonel Guadalupe, city police chief, said that Liper also allegedly yielded drug paraphernalia, and a Black Widow .22 caliber magnum revolver loaded with five live ammunition.

Guadalupe said Liper will be charged for sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition while Laberos will be facing illegal possession of dangerous drugs.

Also arrested by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) at Barangay Talubangi in the said city last Tuesday was Kerr Jhonilao, 30, of the said village.

Authorities seized from him five sachets of suspected shabu weighing seven grams worth P84,000, and the P1,000 boodle money.

In Bacolod City, Vivencio Joseph Benignos, 31, of Barangay Estefania was arrested in a buy-bust at the parking lot of a supermarket in the said village that day, after he allegedly yielded five sachets of suspected shabu worth P180,000, the P1,000 marked money, and a black Ford Ranger pick-up truck. He is detained at Police Station 2.