Cops arrest Sarangani village chief on drug watch list

Sarangani province (outlined in red) (Image from Google Maps)

KORONADAL CITY — Anti-drug police units arrested Saturday a village chairperson during a law enforcement operation in Kiamba, Sarangani, police said.

Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, spokesperson for the police in Region 12, identified the village official in police drug watch list as Latip Mingkat, village chair of Barangay Tambili, Kiamba, Sarangani.

Joint elements of the Sarangani provincial drug enforcement unit, Kiamba police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) served the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Rebecca Dardo-Seredrica of Regional Trial Court Branch 46 against the village official at 4:50 p.m.

The arrest of Mingkat came a day after agents of PDEA arrested in Koronadal City a man, also on the PDEA drug watch list, during a drug buy-bust operation at 5:45 p.m. Friday.

Kath Abad, PDEA 12 spokesperson, identified the suspect as Gerwin Calixton, 39, a resident of Purok Martinez, Block 1, Barangay Zone 4, Koronadal City.

Recovered from Calixton were two huge sachets of suspected shabu weighing 55 grams and estimated to have a market value of P374,000.

A case for violation of Republic Act 9165 are being prepared against the suspects. /atm