Narcotics agents nab NortCot village chief, wife for illegal drugs 

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KABACAN, NORTH COTABATO–Anti-narcotics agents arrested on Friday a village chair and his wife during an anti-drug operation here and seized more than 50 grams of prohibited drugs and P230,000 cash.

Chief Inspector Ronnie Cordero, Kabacan town police chief, identified the barangay official as Datu Bong Bacana, 45, village chairperson of Barangay Kayaga here; and his wife Baliling, 44.

Speaking to reporters, Cordero said the raiding team, composed of police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 12 (PDEA-12), served the search warrant at 4 a.m. at the house of Bacana in Sitio Lumayong.

The couple did not resist arrest but denied they were involved in illegal drugs.  Even neighbors were surprised that the official was arrested on charges he was involved in drug trafficking.

Mokamad Salem, a relative of Bacana, who won in last May’s village elections, told reporters the village official doesn’t have a track record concerning illegal drug activities.

Kath Abad, PDEA-12 spokesperson, said Bacana has been under surveillance for several weeks and he was also named by drug personalities earlier arrested as their source of illegal drugs.

“They belonged to a local drug syndicate,” Abad said.

Also seized from the couple was a .45 cal pistol. They are now detained at the PDEA lock up cell in Gen. Santos City. /jpv