Village councillor nabbed in drug buy bust in Tacloban City

MANILA, Philippines—Anti-narcotics agents arrested a village councillor in Tacloban City for his alleged participation in illegal drugs trade, a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency official said Thursday.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the suspect as Melvin Garpin “Melvz” Gerilla, 36, a resident of 254 Sta. Cruz Tacloban City.
Gerilla was arrested last Tuesday after he sold methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu to an undercover agent, Cacdac said, adding the suspect was later found in possession of about P70,000-worth of the illegal drug.

Along with the 10 plastics sachets of shabu, also recovered from Gerilla’s possession was the marked money used during the buy bust operation around 2 p.m. at Barangay (village) 57, White Lane, Sampaguita, Tacloban City.

“Confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to PNP Crime Laboratory Office 8 for qualitative examination,” Cacdac said.

Gerilla will be charged for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, he said.