MPD chief’s brother arrested for drugs

The younger brother of Manila’s highest-ranking police officer was arrested for illegal drugs in Iligan City on Saturday.

Wilkins Villanueva, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said that Antonio Quiros Anduyan Jr., also known as Soye, was taken into custody by agents of PDEA’s Lanao del Norte Special Enforcement Team.

Listed as the second biggest drug target in Iligan City, Anduyan Jr. is the brother of Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan, Manila Police District (MPD) director who also served as joint task group Philippine National Police commander during the five-month-long Marawi siege.

As deputy regional director for administration of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police Regional Office, Anduyan, then a senior superintendent, received a promotion and numerous citations for his role in helping liberate the city.

Another brother, Camilo Anduyan, is incumbent chair of Barangay Tibanga.

Not my brother’s keeper

In a phone interview, the MPD chief disowned his sibling, saying he was not his brother’s keeper.

“We are siblings only because we have the same father. But we are not close. I don’t meddle in his life,” he said, adding that it was unfortunate he was being linked to his brother’s involvement in illegal drugs.

“We just have the same surname. That’s it,” the police officer told the Inquirer.

Villanueva said PDEA operatives seized six sachets of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P70,000 from Anduyan Jr.

The suspect’s wife, however, denied his involvement in drugs and accused PDEA agents of planting the evidence in their house during a search.

Anduyan Jr. ran for Barangay Saray chair in the May elections although he lost.

He was taken to the PDEA regional office, where charges were being prepared against him.

Neighbors taken by surprise

One of Anduyan Jr.’s neighbors said they were taken by surprise by the antidrug operation, which had PDEA agents dressed in full battle gear.

The agents followed the suspect as he entered his house, Menchie Barbado told the Inquirer. “Then they told us to keep distance so we ran away.”

One of Anduyan Jr.’s sons said that PDEA agents entered a bedroom, searched cabinets and seized their cell phones.

Asked what his father did for a living, the boy replied: “Cockfighting only.” —REPORTS FROM DIVINA SUSON AND AIE BALAGTAS SEE