Kagawad, driver nabbed in P1.3-M drug haul

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A barangay councilor and her driver were arrested after they allegedly yielded 201 grams of suspected shabu worth P1,366,800 in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Alijis here yesterday.

The subject was identified as Kagawad Abby Araneta, 28, of Barangay Alijis, while her driver was identified as Freely Boy Aldas, 39, of Barangay Mansilingan here.

Police Lieutenant Joven Mogato, head of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), said that Araneta was placed under monitoring for a month after they received information on her alleged engagement in the illegal drug trade during the MassKara Festival last month.

Mogato said that Araneta’s customers were allegedly teenagers or high school students.

Mogato said that she allegedly sourced the illegal drugs outside the city.

“Lain-lain nga salakyan ga dul-ong sa iya sang item,” the CDEU head added.

During the transaction, Araneta allegedly sold a shabu to a police agent for P5,000, while Aldas was driving the former’s car.

“May idea gid siya (Aldas) sang baligya-anay man kay ara siya ga upod sa subject,” Mogato said.

Mogato said that both suspects are newly-identified individuals. But, with Araneta’s background as a barangay official and the volume of drug recovery, they can be considered high-value individuals.

Araneta refused to comment on the allegations against her.

Araneta said she’s been a barangay official for 11 years. She started entering politics in 2010 as a chairperson of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and now serving her second term as barangay kagawad.

“Ang Barangay Alijis kakilala kag kabalo sa akon. Ang mga tawo sa Barangay Alijis kag ang mga nakakilala sa akon, amo na lang na ang makadefend sa akon,” Araneta said in a media interview.

Araneta said she’s into online business, and she also has a baby.

Both suspects are detained at Police Station 7.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), recognized the efforts of the operating personnel and lauded them for not lowering their guards against illegal drugs here.

The BCPO vows to do more to help put a stop to the drug menace.