Person involved in P2.4-M shabu bust tags local execs in drug trade

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Local police are validating the alleged involvement of a municipal and a barangay official in the illegal drug trade in Bingawan, Iloilo.

But Lieutenant Ryan Christ Inot, Bingawan police chief, declined to give further details on the positions being occupied by said officials.

In the recent anti-narcotics operation in Bingawan, police arrested Menandro Gelilang, 44, of Zone 7, Barangay Balabag, Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

Suspected shabu or crystal meth worth P2.4 million was seized from his possession.

Gelilang allegedly claimed that they were supporting a municipal and a barangay official.

By support, it was assumed that Gelilang and his group gave “drug protection money” to the duo.

Incidentally, these officials were the same persons who were named by other persons arrested in previous buy-bust operations.

Inot said that the barangay official has been known to oppose their operations.

“Nagagalit siya kapag may operations kami kasi dapat daw magpaalam muna sa barangay officials. Pero sinabihan ko naman siya na hindi namin kailangang magpaalam, we only need a barangay official, any barangay official for that matter, to witness the inventory of seized items,” Inot said.

The municipal official, on the other hand, is a relative of known drug personalities in Bingawan. But the latter has been monitored to leave the area following the recent anti-illegal drug operation.

“Tuloy tuloy ang monitoring and validation namin sa kanila. Once na ma prove natin namin that they are involved in the illegal drug trade, we wouldn’t think twice into taking appropriate actions,” Inot said.

As earlier reported, Gelilang was allegedly connected to Crismark Blancaflor, a 27-year resident of Bingawan, Iloilo, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Hacienda Santa Ana, Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Aug. 30.

Blancaflor and John Valentin Remegio, 34, of La Paz, Iloilo City were arrested with P13.7 million worth of shabu.