Top drug suspect linked to Alcalas nabbed in Quezon

Cerilo Alcala (right) and son, Sajid Alcala (in white shirt), both related to former agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala, appear at a police station, on Aug. 14, 2016, to respond to allegations on their involvement in drugs. (FILE PHOTO BY DELFIN T. MALLARI/ INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Police on Thursday arrested the estranged wife of a member of the Alcala clan for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade in Quezon province.

Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra, Quezon police director, said Rhine Christine Briones Alcala, also known as Arlene, 38, was a “high value target” on the local police’s drug watch list.

Policemen, armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Agripino Morga of the San Pablo City Regional Trial Court, raided Alcala’s house in San Juan Estate in Barangay Isabang, Tayabas City, at 2 a.m.

Recovered from Alcala’s house were six sachets of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P1,500; a sachet containing suspected marijuana seeds; and magazines and bullets for a .45 cal. pistol.

The police identified Arlene Alcala as the estranged wife of Sajid Alcala.

On Aug. 14, Sajid and his father, Cerilo “Athel” Alcala, the top two suspects on the drug watch list of the Lucena City police, surrendered to authorities.

Cerilo is a brother of former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Quezon Rep. Vicente Alcala and Board Member Hermilando Alcala Jr.

Family members said Cerilo and Sajid decided to present themselves to authorities because their alleged involvement in illegal drugs had dragged the entire family into a scandal.

After their surrender last month, Cerilo, who denied he was into illegal drug trading, was placed under hospital arrest due to two bench warrants on drug-related cases issued by local judges.

Sajid had no pending arrest warrant and was allowed to go home after his surrender. His father was also freed after posting bail.

On Sept. 11, Cerilo’s wife, Maria Fe Abutin Alcala, and daughter, Toni Ann, also classified by the police as high value targets, were arrested in a drug bust in Tayabas City.

President Duterte, in his recent speeches, cited members of the Alcala family as among those suspected of involvement in illegal drugs.  SFM