Mayor’s son-in-law nabbed for drugs

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Caraga region has confirmed that one of three drug suspects arrested in a sting in this city last month is a son-in-law of a municipal mayor.

Fritz Gerald Templado, 39, is a son-in-law of Mayor Nida Manpatilan of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, according to PDEA-Caraga information officer Dindo Abellanosa.

Templado’s wife Michelle, who serves as the municipal administrator, is a daughter of Manpatilan.

The suspect was arrested along with two others in Barangay Baan in this city on Jan. 14, PDEA-Caraga legal officer Randy Agustin confirmed to The STAR  yesterday.

The suspects reportedly yielded plastic sachets containing shabu and marked money.

Meanwhile, in Baguio City, a son of a known drug suspect was arrested in a sting in Barangay East Quirino yesterday morning.

John Patrick Penamente was collared after he allegedly sold shabu to an undercover agent.

Police said Penamente’s mother was arrested in 2016 and 2019 for the same offense.

The suspect reportedly supplies drugs to laborers and drivers in the area. – Artemio Dumlao