Ex-Aglipayan church priest nabbed in Malolos City buy-bust

CITY OF MALOLOS — A former priest of the Aglipayan church was arrested in an anti-illegal drug buy-bust operation in this city on Friday, September 17, a belated report from the city police said Sunday.

Police Leuitenant Oliver Valdez, head of the Drug Enforcement Unit of Malolos City police, said Rancy Alfonso, 58, was arrested after selling shabu (crystal meth) to a police poseur buyer at about 10 p.m. in his house in Barangay (village) Bagna.

Alfonso had resigned from Philippine Independent (Aglipayan) Church in 2007, Valdez said. However, it was not immediately known if the priest resigned from the church due to involvement with illegal drugs.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Jayson Salvador, team leader in the buy-bust operation, said they recovered six small plastic sachets of shabu from Alfonso and his cohort identified as Rolando Mateo. Mateo, however, managed to escape.

Alfonso is charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.