Ex-CAR narc chief, ex-vice mayor held for shabu in Tarlac

BAGUIO CITY — A former chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and a former Kalinga vice mayor were held by the Tarlac City police in a shabu bust Friday night.

Superintendent Tito Bayangos, Tarlac police director, said policemen chanced upon Senior Inspector Dante Gacadan, former PDEA-CAR officer-in-charge, and the former vice mayor while allegedly buying two sachets of shabu.

Police withheld the name of the vice mayor.

A desk officer of the Tarlac City police, a certain SPO4 Ruiz, said Gacadan was also held for illegal possession of a 9mm Jericho pistol.

Gacadan, however, claimed in a text message that he and the former vice mayor, who he claimed was an "asset," were conducting an operation when they were arrested.

The PDEA-CAR logbook showed that Gacadan headed to Tarlac for a narcotics’ "test buy."

The STAR, however, learned that Gacadan was already in Rosales, Pangasinan when he sent a text message to the non-commissioned officer on duty to log his "test buy."

Gacadan assumed as OIC of the PDEA-CAR last Nov. 26 following the relief of Superintendent Danilo Manzano and six of his agents.

Gacadan was himself relieved last Jan. 31.