Tuburan councilman nabbed for drugs

CEBU, Philippines — A councilman of Barangay 5, Tuburan in Northern Cebu was arrested during a raid conducted at his residence Thursday morning.

Maurice Perales was caught in possession of a .38 caliber revolver loaded with four live ammunition and one medium and three small packs of suspected shabu were found in his home by operatives of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7, Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC), and Tuburan police.

Police Superintendent Marlu Conag, Tuburan chief of police, said that Perales has been under surveillance after they received reports about his involvement in illegal drugs.

Conag added that personalities recently arrested in a buy-bust operation revealed that they got their illegal drugs from Perales.

There were also reports that Perales was allegedly using his home as a drug den.

Conag also said that Perales has been identified as a drug user in their barangay and had even been advised by their barangay captain to surrender during Oplan Tokhang, but the suspect did not surrender.

During the operation, another Barangay 5 councilor identified as Emilio Castro Jr. voluntarily surrendered his .22 revolver pistol.

Conag said that a separate search warrant has also been issued for Castro based on reports that he has an unregistered weapon, but they had a problem executing the warrant.

“Ang nasa search warrant kasi Barangay 5 pero nang pumunta kami ay nasa boundary na siya ng Barangay Cogon. Mabuti nalang at agad din naman sinurrender ni Castro ang baril niya,” said Conag. (FREEMAN)