Councilman nabbed; guns, drugs seized

HINDANG, LEYTE, Philippines — High-powered firearms and packs of shabu were found and confiscated from the house of 36-year-old Barangay Councilman Japeth Abenoja who was also arrested by a composite team in a raid conducted last Sunday (March 24) night.

The team, consisting of operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-8, Special Anti-Illegal Drugs Operation Special Task Group and Leyte Provincial Police Office Special Task Force, raided the house of Abenoja at sitio Cogon of Brgy. Tabok in this town, by virtue of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court  Judge Alphinor Serrano.

In its search, the team found and seized high powered guns, 2 hand grenades, 2 rifle grenades, magazines, ammunitions, packs of shabu and cash from the bedroom of the suspect, who was also arrested in the process.

Abenoja, who was surprised of the raid, insisted that he did not have any shabu in his bedroom and that some of the firearms seized from him are licensed. “The packs of shabu were not mine, and that I neither use nor sell such illegal items,” he told The Freeman.

Two other persons, allegedly the councilman’s men, were also arrested in possession of illegal drugs, They, together with Abenoja, are now detained at the PDEA regional detention center.  (FREEMAN)