ILOILO — A barangay captain was arrested in a high-value drug buy-bust operation that netted nearly a kilo of suspected shabu worth an estimated P6.46 million, in what police described as a major breakthrough against illegal drugs in northern Iloilo.
The suspect, 39-year-old Ed Martin Gonzaga Alconga, is the barangay captain of Tuble, San Dionisio town. He was apprehended on January 14 by operatives of the Iloilo Police Drug Enforcement Unit in Barangay Devera, Sara, Iloilo.
The buy-bust was led by Police Major Dadjie Delima following an extended period of surveillance and intelligence gathering. His team seized approximately 950 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, underscoring what authorities said was the scale of the illegal activity allegedly linked to the village official.
Alconga was taken to the San Dionisio Municipal Police Station, where he remains under detention.
He is facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which carries severe penalties for the sale, possession, and distribution of illegal drugs.
Police officials said the arrest of an elected barangay official sends a strong message that no one is above the law, stressing that the operation is part of intensified efforts to dismantle drug networks and restore public trust in local governance.
Just last week, January 7, police seized more than P2.7 worth of suspected shabu and dried marijuana leaves from the barangay captain of Canauili, Janiuay town.
The suspect identified as Jeguer “Junjun” Verbal, 51, yielded 410 grams of alleged shabu with a standard drug price of P2,788,000 and 8.2 grams of dried marijuana leaves approximately valued at P4,100.
The suspect was taken to the Janiuay Municipal Police Station.
Delima said Verbal was the supplier of illegal drugs for alias “Pudo” who was previously arrested in an antidrug operation in Barangay Gines, Janiuay, in September 2025.
“Siya [Verbal] ang nagahulog or naga-supply… isa gali siya sang naga-supply sa kay Pudo nga nakuha [arrested] naton. That is why nakibot kita sadto sang nabal-an nga may isa ka government-elected official nga naga-engage [sa illegal drugs] diri sa banwa sang Janiuay,” Delima said in a social media interview.
Delima added that aside from Verbal, they are currently monitoring several barangay officials who are allegedly involved in the operation of illegal drugs. Some of them, he said, are subject for validation prior the conduct of police operations.
“Todo-todo ang pagproseso sang aton iban nga units especially the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) sa pag-clear from illegal drugs sa aton kabarangayan. And we are working hand in hand sa aton PDEA and other drug enforcement units. But sad to say nga may mga barangay officials kita nga naga-engage sa pagbaligya kag paggamit sang ilegal nga droga,” he added.
Calling it a serious breach of public trust with grave legal consequences, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. warned that barangay officials caught in illegal drugs face aggravated liability and harsher penalties.
He emphasized that barangay officials are expected to know that involvement in illegal drugs constitutes an aggravated offense due to their position and carries stiffer penalties.
The governor added that illegal drugs cut across all sectors and positions, noting that accountability applies to everyone regardless of status./PN
