Ex-village chief nabbed in drug bust

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A former barangay captain was arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the city police in their anti-illegal drugs campaign.

John Roberto, whose father is now the barangay captain of Tanza Timawa Zone 2, was arrested in a buy-bust operation Friday afternoon. Seized from his possession were two sachets of suspected shabu worth P100,000 and P2,000 marked money.

According to Sr. Supt. Ruperto Floro, Iloilo City Police chief, Roberto was considered a high-value target, although PDEA-6 regional director Paul Ledesma attested that there were no reports of the suspect's illegal drugs involvement when the latter was still a barangay captain.

In December 2013, Ledesma said reports have been coming out claiming Roberto's connections with the illegal drug trade.