Iloilo town village chief held for drugs

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A barangay chairman in Zarraga, Iloilo was arrested in an anti-narcotics operation at a barangay hall on Friday.

Bernard Galache, 55, of Barangay Inagdangan was apprehended after selling a sachet of shabu worth P22,000 to undercover agents, police said.

When frisked, the barangay official yielded nine more sachets of shabu worth P81,000, Capt. Raphy Señeres, Zarraga police chief, said.

Señeres said a drug suspect recently arrested in Zarraga pointed to Galache as one of his suppliers.

He said the suspect previously peddled drugs, but resorted to having his customers pick them up at the barangay hall.

”He’s been using the barangay hall as his house. He’s sleeping there...He also has his personal belongings inside,” Señeres said.

A first-time village chief, Galache reportedly plans to seek reelection in the barangay polls in October.