Kagawad in drug charge arrested

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

A village councilman who skirted authorities during an anti-narcotics operation was arrested afternoon of November 4 at F. Parcon Street, Pototan, Iloilo.

Police identified the suspect as Barangay Kagawad Jose Hiso, Jr., 52, of Jardin St., F Parcon Ward, Pototan.

Hiso, who also works as a security guard, is considered a high-value individual (HVI) drug personality by the police.

Members of Pototan Police Station and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Special Operations Group (IPPO-SOG) arrested the suspect by virtue of an arrest warrant for violation of Section 22, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) docketed under Criminal Case No. 20-9711.

Judge Domingo Casiple of the Regional Trial Court Branch 68 in Dumangas, Iloilo issued the warrant of arrest on Oct. 30, 2020.

A bailbond of P200,000 was set for Hiso’s temporary liberty.

The case stemmed from a drug raid conducted by members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Pototan Police Station on Hiso’s house in March 2017.

Hiso, a former village chief, was believed to have fled via their backdoor. It was gathered that he voluntarily surrendered to the police shortly after Oplan Double Barrel was launched.

While he claimed to be only a drug user at that time, police believed otherwise.

In fact, Hiso was once deemed as the province’s top drug personality after the arrest of then Barangay Captain Ramon Platon.

Platon, who was considered a top drug personality at that time, yielded P8 million worth of suspected shabu.

Hiso is now detained at the Pototan Police Station as he has yet to post bail.