Misamis Oriental village councilor nabbed for shabu

LUGAIT, Misamis Oriental – Another village official in the province was arrested under the government’s war on drugs.

Joseph Christian Lim, a village councilor of Poblacion, was arrested on Saturday after police seized four sachets of suspected shabu, a 9- millimeter pistol, a .22 caliber rifle and a grenade from his house during a raid.

Senior Inspector James Bastatas, head of the Provincial Drugs Enforcement Unit of Misamis Oriental, said the raid on Lim’s house was backed by a warrant issued by Judge Renato Arroyo.

Ironically, Arroyo was the same judge who officiated Lim’s wedding three days ago.

Lim, 33, was a nephew of the former mayor of Lugait, Willie Lim, who was tagged by President Duterte as a “drug coddler.” The former mayor denied this.

The village councilor, who was being detained here as charges were being prepared against him, became the fifth barangay official arrested in Misamis Oriental’s second district over drug charges this year.

In January, Annie Sereṅo, a barangay kagawad of Linangkayan in Naawan, was also arrested together with her husband and son.

The chair of Camanga in Manticao, Johnny Dengue, was arrested in February.

In March, Francis Ian Tupag, village chair of Pontacon in Initao town was also arrested. Kagawad Daroy Loretche of Matangad, also in Initao was arrested early this month.