Kagawad, fake PDEA agent nabbed in Negros bust

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — An incumbent barangay official and his three alleged cohorts, as well as a fake agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in Negros Occidental on Wednesday.

In Binalbagan town, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit–Negros Island Region led a drug bust that resulted in the apprehension of a 39-year-old kagawad from Barangay Payao and his three companions — a driver and two farmers in the village.

Authorities seized from the four suspects 70 grams of suspected shabu, or methamphetamine hydrochloride, worth PHP 476,000, along with PHP 1,000 in marked money, PHP 16,000 in boodle money, two lighters, two improvised tooter containers and one improvised tooter.

Police Capt. Joelan Vinson, chief of the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station, said the barangay councilor was a former drug surrenderer during Oplan Tokhang and underwent a community-based drug rehabilitation program.

Vinson said they had also been receiving reports about the kagawad’s alleged illegal drug activity, placing him under police monitoring and the drug watchlist.

The PDEG tagged the kagawad as a high-value individual, and drug charges are being readied against all four suspects.

The operation was also supported by PDEA–Negros Occidental, the Coast Guard Intelligence Unit–Southern Negros Occidental, the Regional Intelligence Unit in Negros Island, the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and the Binalbagan police.

Meanwhile, in Murcia town, a 34-year-old resident of Barangay Zone IV, identified as “Dimpoy,” was apprehended after authorities seized 13 sachets or 17 grams of suspected shabu.

According to PDEA–Negros Island Region, the suspect had been posing as a PDEA agent to facilitate and cover up his involvement in illegal drug activities.

The operation was launched after authorities received a report through the “Isumbong mo sa PDEA” hotline.