Barangay kagawad caught with P70K worth of drugs

MANILA, Philippines - Anti-narcotics agents arrested a barangay kagawad who sidelines as a drug dealer in Tacloban City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported Thursday.

PDEA director general Arturo G. Cacdac Jr. identified the suspect as Melvin Garpin Gerilla, 36, of 254 Sta. Cruz Tacloban City.

Reports showed that at around 2 p.m. last June 25, elements of the PDEA Regional Office 8 conducted a buy-bust operation at Barangay 57, White Lane, Sampaguita, Tacloban City which resulted in the arrest of Gerilla.

Confiscated from his possession were 10 pieces of small heat-sealed plastic sachets and four large plastic sachets containing shabu, with an estimated market value of P70,000.

The confiscated items were brought to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory Office 8 for qualitative examination.

The suspect will be charged for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.