2 Batangas security men held for drugs; Ex-village chief slain

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Two members of the government’s civilian security unit in Tanauan City, Batangas were arrested for possession of illegal drugs, while a former village chief in Bacoor City, Cavite was killed by policemen in an anti-drug operation, police said Friday.

Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran, information officer of the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (CALABARZON) police, said suspects Romer Roxas and Jemar Demapilis were arrested at a police checkpoint around 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Talaga, Tanauan City.

This was after the police found 5.4 grams of suspected “shabu” worth P9,990 and an unlicensed .38 caliber gun from them.

Dimapilis was an active member of the Mayor’s Anti-Crime Group (MACG), while Roxas had been “terminated” in 2014, according to Tanuan City information officer Gerard Laresma. Roxas reportedly had tested positive for illegal drug use.

The MACG is a civilian group, employed and issued firearms by the city government, to augment security efforts in the city. The group was also the one responsible for arresting and publicly shaming crime suspects in its so-called “walk of shame.”

“The mayor (Antonio Halili) was very furious over (his men’s involvement in the illegal drugs). We’ve been conducting drug tests randomly on our government employees, but after this incident, everyone would now be tested,” Laresma said.

In Bacoor City, Cavite, Manuel “Boy” Aledia, a former village chief in Talaba 6, was killed in a shootout with the policemen around 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

According to the report, the police were supposed to implement a search warrant at Aledia’s home but the suspect opened fire at the approaching policemen. The police shot back and killed Aledia in the brief gunfight. JE/rga