Drug charges filed vs kin of lawmaker

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Police formally filed drug charges against a brother and nephew of Quezon Rep. Proceso Alcala who were arrested by anti-narcotics agents inside their ancestral home in Lucena City last Tuesday morning.

Charged, according to Chief Inspector Chris Abrajano, Region 4-A chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), were Cirillo “Athel” Alcala, 51, his live-in partner Gina Balicas, 34, and son, Shajid, 27.

Cirillo is a younger brother of Rep. Alcala and Quezon provincial board member Vicente Alcala.

Abrajano said Cirillo and Shajid were charged with violations of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act as well as Presidential Decree 1866 for illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm.

For her part, Balicas was charged with violation of Section 12 of RA 9165 for illegal possession of drug paraphernalia. – Arnell Ozaeta