Davao Oriental town councilor nabbed for guns, drugs

DAVAO CITY – A town councilor of Manay, Davao Oriental has been arrested by police and anti-drug agents due to possession of firearms and illegal drugs.

Authorities identified the suspect as Levy Joe Lumando, 40. He was collared during search operation by policemen and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) inside his home at Barangay Del Pilar around 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to Major Jason Baria, spokesperson of the Southern Mindanao Police Regional Office.

Recovered from Lumando’s possession were weapons such as a caliber .45 pistol, a rifle grenade, a hand grenade, rounds of ammunition for an M16 assault rifle, 10 bullets for the caliber .45 pistol as well as two sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth) approximately valued at P12,000.

Baria said Lumando’s arrest was by virtue of a search warrant issued by a local court, adding the suspect was considered a high-value target due to his being a local official.

The suspect has been placed under police custody as charges have been readied against him, the regional police spokesperson said. /kga