P360T shabu confiscated: Barangay exec, 8 others caught in drug den

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A combined team of policemen last Saturday apprehended a village councilman and eight civilians during a buy-bust operation inside a drug den at Hinigaran town, Negros Occidental where P360,000 worth of shabu was also confiscated.

Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, acting police provincial director, identified the suspects as Councilman Rogelio De Guia of Barangay Batad in Iloilo City; Angelica Arevalo, Yoly Maniega, Geovani Gonzales, Edgar Tadeo, Michelle Mayor, Gelord Perez, George Maniega—all of Barangay 2 in Hinigaran—and Randy Osorio of Barangay Miranda in Pontevedra town.

Nacion said the operation was conducted by joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6 and the Hinigaran Municipal Police Station.

PDEA-6 Deputy Director Ronnie Delicana said the operatives seized 78 sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia from the den.

Delicana said Councilman De Guia told the police he was in Hinigaran only to attend a wake and it was only incidental he was in the area when the raiding team conducted the anti-illegal drug operation. The village official insisted he had nothing to do with the illegal activity.

Delicana said all the suspects are now in police custody and are facing charges.