Ex-mediaman arrested for drugs

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A former media personality was arrested for alleged possession of illegal drugs at a checkpoint in La Paz district of this city.

The suspect, 47-year-old Berdie Vargas, of Brgy. Taft North in Mandurriao district, came from the house of city mayoralty candidate Rommel Ynion at the nearby Puerto Real Subdivision in La Paz when members of the Iloilo City Public Safety Company flagged him down around 2 a.m.

When policemen asked him for the motorcycle's official receipt-certificate of registration, Vargas initially replied the vehicle was not his. Yet, when he opened the motorcycle's compartment to look for the papers, the authorities saw dried marijuana leaves inside a plastic.

Vargas, who is now detained pending the filing of charges against him for violation of the anti-illegal drugs law, denied that the marijuana was taken from his possession, insisting it was "planted" by the policemen and allegedly part of the dirty tricks of political opponents. — (FREEMAN)