Talisay kagawad arrested for drugs, firearm

CEBU, Philippines —  A councilman of Barangay Lawaan III, Talisay City was arrested for illegal drugs and possession of high powered firearms yesterday morning.

The official was identified as Bimbo Cabuenas Ramos. He was arrested with five large packs of shabu worth P3.4 million, an air rifle, and a CO2 gas tank.

Police Captain Alejandro Batobalonos, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit, said they secured a warrant to search Ramos’ house after verifying that he was involved in the illegal drug trade.

His house was reportedly used as a drop off point for drugs and he was the one allegedly assigned to store the supply of shabu. 

"Nahulog ni siya nga bodegero siya, bagsakan atong dako sad nga drug lord sa Lawaan III. Amo ni siya na-monitor and na-positive mao applyan nato search warrant. Daghan didto ang di lagi mutoo kay lagi daw boutan ni nga tawo (He served as the custodian of the drugs from a drug lord in Lawaan. We monitored him and we are positive of his involvement so we applied for a search warrant. Many of his neighbors could not believe because he is reportedly a good man)," Batobalonos said.

In fact, he said, some of his neighbors tried to block the cops during arrest in defense of Ramos.

Ramos’ wife, Rowena, told reporters that they own the air rifle but she did not know that it was illegal.

She, however, denied vehemently that her husband is involved in drugs.

"Illegal diay na (referring to the gun)? Wala man sad ko kahibaw… pero kanang sa drugs, kahibaw ko wala gyud ni siya ana (I didn’t know the having the gun is illegal, but what I know is that he is not involved in drugs)," she said.

Ramos is facing charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act and the Comprehensive Law On Firearms and Explosives.  JMO (FREEMAN)