Barangay captain, 2 others caught sniffing shabu

CEBU, Philippines – A barangay captain and his two supposed constituents were arrested after they were reportedly caught by policemen sniffing shabu inside a shanty in Barangay Tutay, Pinamugajan, Cebu on Thursday night.

Arrested were Tutay barangay captain Rhabee Yanong, 46; Rommel Magtagad, 39; and Theresa Manguilimotan, 37.

Pinamungajan Police chief Senior Inspector Al Pascual said they responded to the area after receiving a report around 8:30 p.m. last Thursday about a group of persons having a shabu sniffing session at a shanty in the said barangay.

When policemen arrived, the people inside the open shanty reportedly scampered away, but Yanong and the other two suspects were cornered.

Yanong reportedly even tried to resist arrest and fought with the policemen.

“Daku man gud siya nga tawo unya ang atong polis gagmay man mao siguro ‘to nga misukol siya”, said Pascual.

Pascual said they have already received information that the barangay captain uses illegal drugs. He added that Barangay Tutay is one of those being complained about by his personnel since the barangay officials would allegedly not cooperate whenever they conduct anti-illegal drug operations.

During the arrest, Pascual said Yanong was so mad at them and even told them that he will use all his means before the court. Yanong and Magtagad were even brought to the hospital after their blood pressure went high.

“Trabaho lang ning amoa, walang personalan. Unsaon man nato nga nadakpan man siya,” the police official said.

Yanong was reportedly seized with three small packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia, while Manguilimotan and Magtagad were each confiscated with a small pack as well as drug paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office seized around P1 million worth of suspected shabu in two separate buy-bust operations in one day.

At around 4 p.m. on Thursday, PIB operatives arrested Rustom Bragat, the subject of the operation, Julius Tampus and Nelson Macutol in Barangay Bawo, Sogod, Cebu.

Several packs of suspected shabu that weighed 71 grams amounting to some P837,800 were seized from the suspects.

An hour after, PIB operatives conducted another buy-bust operation in Barangay Tangke, Talisay City, Cebu that led to the arrest of Hilario Palmero.  Palmero reportedly yielded 12 small packs and another big pack of suspected shabu that would amount to more than PP632,000.   All suspects are now detained while criminal charges are now being prepared against them. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/NSA (FREEMAN)