Barangay Captain in Dumaguete City Arrested for Possession of Suspected Shabu

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region (PDEA-NIR) successfully apprehended a barangay captain in Dumaguete City on Thursday evening amid a targeted anti-drug operation. The suspect, a 49-year-old barangay chairman identified by the alias "Inah," was found in possession of approximately P34,000 worth of suspected shabu.

The operation took place in Purok Salampati, Barangay Pulantubig, Dumaguete City, where authorities confiscated 18 heat-sealed sachets of suspected methamphetamine, weighing about 5 grams, along with an improvised glass pipe and a cellular phone.

Authorities have designated the suspect, who belongs to the LGBTQ+ community and is considered a high-value target, as both a user and seller of illegal drugs within the area.

Currently detained by the Dumaguete Police, he faces charges under Sections 5, 11, and 12 of Republic Act 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, for illegal possession and distribution of controlled substances.

In a statement, PDEA-NIR reiterated that the arrest underscores the agency's intensified campaign to eliminate illegal drugs throughout the province, affirming that "no one is above the law" regardless of their social or political standing.

Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) spokesperson, PLt. Col. Joem Malong, added that law enforcement remains unwavering in its commitment to dismantle drug supply networks and protect communities across the region.