ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has raised alarm over the arrest of several barangay officials in major anti-drug operations across Western Visayas in February, with authorities seizing more than P5 million worth of suspected shabu in separate busts in Iloilo Province alone.
PRO-6 regional director Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan said the involvement of elected village officials in illegal drug activities is deeply concerning but stressed that police operations will continue regardless of a suspect’s position in government.
“Yes, alarming — most especially,” Ligan said during a press conference.
“On the part of the PNP (Philippine National Police), as mandated through our mission, if there is a crime, we need to solve it. ‘Yun ang gagawin natin. We will continue to conduct law enforcement operations to those people involved,” he added.
Series of arrests
Police reported that three barangay officials — including a village chief, a barangay kagawad, and a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman — were among those arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Iloilo Province.
On February 20, authorities arrested an incumbent SK chairman in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Ardemil, Sara, Iloilo.
The suspect, identified by police as alias “Mar,” 26, a resident of Barangay Del Castillo, was classified as a high-value individual. Authorities seized more than P2 million worth of suspected shabu during the operation.
Earlier, on February 15, an incumbent barangay captain was also arrested in Barangay Bondulan, San Dionisio, Iloilo after authorities recovered more than P1.5 million worth of suspected shabu.
According to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), the village chief had been under surveillance for nearly two years following reports from concerned citizens about his alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.
Investigators later confirmed that the suspect was allegedly sourcing illegal drugs from Estancia, Iloilo, and distributing them within San Dionisio.
In another operation also conducted on February 15, four individuals — including a former police officer and an incumbent barangay kagawad — were arrested in Barangay Licu-an, Dingle, Iloilo.
Police seized around 320 grams of suspected shabu valued at more than P2.1 million, along with marked buy-bust money and other drug paraphernalia.
The main suspects were identified by their aliases “Edward,” 51, a former member of the Philippine National Police, and “Kor,” 55, an incumbent barangay kagawad. Both were also classified as high-value individuals.
Two other suspects were tagged as street-level individuals.
Authorities said the group allegedly sourced illegal drugs from Iloilo City and distributed them in Dingle.
‘Eventually mahuhuli kayo’
Despite the alarming trend, Ligan warned that police will continue aggressive anti-drug operations across the region.
“If they want to continue, then in time they will be arrested — mahuhuli’t mahuhuli kayo, kasi walang masama ang nagwawagi. Lahat ‘yan mahuhuli,” he said. “Everything is possible; possible just takes time. Kahit pa sabihin nakapagtago kayo ng ilang taon diyan, eventually mahuhuli kayo.”
He also issued a stern warning to those involved in illegal drug activities.
“Kung saan kayo, makukulong kayo o mabuhay nang payapa? Basta sa amin, tuloy-tuloy ang paghuhuli sa inyo. Alarming ‘yan, ang drug na ‘yan,” Ligan said.
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Bayani Razalan, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, reiterated that anti-drug operations in the province will continue regardless of the suspects’ status in the community.
He stressed that authorities remain committed to holding accountable anyone involved in illegal drugs, including government officials./PN
