Barangay councilman arrested in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines — A barangay councilman from Sandayung Sur, Danao City was arrested after he yielded more than P200,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation Sunday dawn.

The police identified the suspect as Archie Cañas, 36, who is the barangay’s top councilor.

Police Officer 2 Phil Restauro of the Danao City Police Station said that Cañas has been monitored by the city’s police operatives for quite some time already for his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Several arrested drug personalities in previous operations of the Danao police allegedly also mentioned the name of Cañas.

Restauro added that to avoid suspension from the public, Cañas allegedly was very active in the campaign against illegal drugs in their barangay. He allegedly also has a store used as front of his illegal drug activities.

“Active kaayo ni siya sa ilang barangay sa campaign sa illegal drugs. Dili man pud siya mamaligya didto sa ilang barangay adto sa mga silingan,” said Restauro, in a phone interview with The FREEMAN.

The police said his area of distribution includes the barangays of Looc and Maslog and there are reports that his distribution reached to neighboring municipalities of Danao.

After several weeks of close monitoring on Cañas’ illegal activities, Danao operatives successfully transacted with the suspect and were able to seize another four medium packs of suspected shabu weighing 22 grams valued at P265,500.

Police Superintendent Jaime Quiocho Jr., Danao PNP chief, said that the involvement of a barangay official in illegal drugs played a big factor as to why up to now illegal drugs couldn’t be eradicated in Danao City.

“Iyan siguro ang isang rason din. Malaki talaga ang role ng BADAC sa pagsugpo ng illegal na drugs.  Sana lang ay tuloy-tuloy ang suporta nila sa programa ni President Duterte,” said Quiocho.

Meanwhile, in separate buy-bust operation, a son of former barangay captain of Guinacot was nabbed during buy-bust operation on Sunday dawn.

The suspect Rodel Almagro yielded six small packs of suspected shabu worth P4,130.

Restauro said that Almagro was also a noted drug pusher in their municipality and has been very elusive to operatives.

Almagro and Cañas are now detained at the Danao City Police Station while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 has been filed against them before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. (FREEMAN)