Victorias village chief, SK councilor arrested in raids

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Two barangay officials were among four people arrested in separate operations against loose firearms and illegal drugs in Negros Occidental last week.

On Friday, a 54-year-old barangay captain was arrested during a raid against loose firearms and explosives in Barangay 12, Victorias City.

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspect as “Gar,” the captain of Barangay 12.

Police acted on a report and secured a search warrant against the suspect, who was allegedly keeping an unlicensed firearm.

Operatives conducted casing, surveillance and firearms verification, which showed that the suspect was not a licensed firearm holder.

Police confiscated a .22-caliber revolver loaded with six rounds of ammunition, 63 additional rounds of .22-caliber ammunition and a hand grenade.

In a statement, Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, PRO-NIR director, said the recovery of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition and an explosive device through the lawful implementation of a search warrant demonstrated the police’s unwavering commitment to protecting communities from potential threats.

He vowed to further intensify intelligence-driven operations and ensure that individuals who violate firearms and explosives laws are held accountable.

A day earlier, a 26-year-old Sangguniang Kabataan councilor and his two alleged cohorts were arrested in a drug bust at a rented house in Barangay Tinampa-an, Cadiz City.

Police alleged that the suspects had been engaged in online illegal drug transactions.

The suspects were identified as SK Councilor “Bingbong” of Barangay Zone 6, Cadiz City; “Jac,” 27, of Barangay Zone 4, Cadiz City; and “Ro,” 28, of Barangay 1, Manapla.

Police recovered 4.5 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 30,600 and PHP 500 in marked money.

Police also confiscated from Ro a .38-caliber revolver and two live rounds of ammunition.

Police Lt. Daleen Grace Loreno, deputy chief of the Cadiz City Police Station, said operatives began monitoring Bingbong’s alleged illegal drug activities two months ago.

Police learned that he had allegedly been using a different name in reported transactions since last year, Loreno said.

Loreno said the group’s alleged modus operandi involved cashless transactions, sending customers photos of the drugs and leaving the items at agreed locations for pickup.

There were also instances when the suspects met with trusted clients, she added.

Loreno said Ro was the alleged source of the contraband and the tenant of the house in Cadiz City.

The three suspects denied the allegations against them.

Bingbong, who was elected in 2023, was tagged as a high-value individual, while the two others were classified as street-level individuals.

Cardiño warned that no one is exempt from the law, regardless of position or status.

“This successful operation sends a clear message that the law applies equally to everyone,” he said.

He vowed to continue intensifying the campaign against illegal drugs and loose firearms, regardless of who is involved.