Drug den raid: Village chief, 2 tanods nabbed

POTOTAN, ILOILO, Philippines — A village chief and two tanods were arrested in a raid of a suspected drug den at Ledesma Street in Brgy. Poblacion of this town last Wednesday evening.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6 operatives collared Barangay Chairman Bram Pimentel, 44, of Brgy. Guinacas, chief tanod Pastor Pastolero, 45, of Poblacion, and tanod Nestor Baging, 44, of Brgy. Cato-ogan

PDEA-6 regional director Ronnie Delicana said the three suspects were not the subjects of the raid but a certain Rodolfo Pastolero, brother of Pastor and the owner of the house which allegedly served as a drug den.

While the three were caught red-handed, Rodolfo was quick to flee and avoid arrest.

Two other persons, who were at the area of the alleged drug den, were invited by the operatives for questioning but were later released after the customary interrogation.

Delicana said that Pastor has been on the watchlist of illegal drug personalities of both the police and PDEA-6, while Pimentel was just on the PDEA’s watchlist.

“We considered them as high-value targets because of their role in the community. Our fight against illegal drugs is way too difficult because our supposed partners are the ones behind the illegal drug trade,” he added. (FREEMAN)