2 nephews of Alcala, 4 others nabbed in Quezon drug bust

Former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY, Philippines — Two nephews of former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Quezon Rep. Vicente Alcala and four others were arrested in a drug bust in Sariaya town early Tuesday, police said.

Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra, Quezon provincial police director, said policemen arrested Sahjid Alcala, considered a high-value target on the police’s watch list of illegal drug suspects, after Sahjid sold “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) to an undercover policeman in Barangay Balubal at 1:15 a.m.

Sahjid is the son of Cerilo “Athel” Alcala, younger brother of Proceso and Vicente.

Police had described Cerilo and Sahjid as the “most influential drug personalities” in Quezon because of their political connection.

President Duterte has tagged some members of the Alcala family, a prominent political clan in Quezon, as among those suspected of involvement in illegal drugs.

Also arrested on Tuesday were Cerolleriz Alcala, Sahjid’s younger brother, and their companions Joel Jamilla Lambit, Noel Abutin, Dona May Abastillas and Yumiko Angela Tan.

Police recovered 62.3 grams of shabu, worth P115,255, during the operation.

They also confiscated three cars and a motorcycle from the group.

Three hours later, in another drug bust in Lucena City, police also arrested suspected drug pushers Magtaas Enverga, Nor Langcaon and Ronalyn Monterde Langcaon.

Police seized 72.37 grams of shabu, worth P133,884, from the group.

“The second operation is a follow up after Sahjid’s arrest,” Yarra said in a telephone interview.

The arrest of the Alcala brothers came more than two months after their mother, Maria Fe, and sister, Toni Ann, were arrested in a drug bust in nearby Tayabas City.

Seized from them during a buy-bust operation on Sept. 11 were 24 plastic sachets containing 115 grams of shabu, worth P212,750. Maria Fe has since been released after posting bail.

Ten days later, Sahjid’s estranged wife, Rhine Christine Briones Alcala, was also arrested in Tayabas City on a drug-related charge. She was released on bail.

On Aug. 14, Rep. Vicente Alcala accompanied Cerilo and Sahjid to the city police station as they turned themselves in to authorities.

After their surrender, Cerilo was placed under hospital arrest due to two bench warrants on drug-related cases issued by local judges.

Sahjid had no pending arrest warrant that time and was allowed to go home. His father was freed later after posting bail.

Police records showed that Cerilo and Sajid had already been arrested three times on drug pushing charges, but they were freed several years ago.

The courts dismissed three cases against them. CBB/rga