Alcala brothers nabbed in drug bust

Sahjid Alcala (left) and his father, Cerilo (in sunglasses), during their surrender to the Lucena City police in August. —DELFIN T. MALLARI JR.

LUCENA CITY—Police are confident the illegal drug network involving some members of the prominent Alcala clan in Quezon province would soon fall apart after two family members and their four companions were arrested in a buy-bust operation on Tuesday in Sariaya town.

Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra, Quezon provincial police director, said other members of the clan and their men are now targets of police operations after Sahjid Alcala, 35, and his younger brother, Cer Olleriz, 23, were arrested in Barangay Balubal in Sariaya at 2:30 a.m.

Buy-bust

Yarra said policemen arrested the brothers after they sold “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) to an undercover policeman in a house in Wood Lanes Estates Phase 2 Subdivision. Also arrested were Joel Jamilla Lambit, Noel Abutin, Dona May Abastillas and Yumiko Angela Tan.

Police had described Sahjid and his father, Cerilo “Athel” Alcala, as the “most influential drug personalities” in Que- zon because of their political connection.

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

Dismantle

Sahjid and Cer Olleriz’s parents—Cerilo and Maria Fe—and sister Toni Ann had also been linked to the illegal drug trade.

President Duterte, in his address before soldiers in Villamor Air Base on Sept. 13, referred to the Alcala clan as he talked about his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“The one in Quezon, with the Alcalas, publicly I will tell you, that’s true,” the President said of the drug links of some members of the clan.

Yarra said police are working to dismantle the Alcalas’ network in the illicit trade.

“[They] are now using fronts or dummies in their transactions. But [we are confident] they would soon fall, like the rest,” he told the Inquirer in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

Police seized 62.3 grams of shabu, worth P115,255, from the Alcala brothers and their companions during Tuesday’s drug bust. Three cars and a motorcycle were also confiscated from them.

A source from the local police intelligence unit said law enforcers are pursuing at least two more members of the clan for their involvement in the drug trade.

On Aug. 14, Rep. Vicente Alcala accompanied Cerilo and Sahjid to the Lucena City police station when they surrendered to authorities.

Surrender

Cerilo had denied involvement in the illegal drug trade and maintained that he had stopped using and selling drugs.

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.

Vicente said Cerilo and Sahjid decided to surrender
because their alleged involvement in illegal drugs had dragged the entire family into a “big scandal.”

Brushes with law

The lawmaker said while some family members had brushes with the law, they were “not condoning any of their illegal activities.”

On Sept. 11, the Alcala brothers’ mother, Maria Fe, and their sister, Toni Ann, were arrested in a drug bust in nearby Tayabas City.

Seized from them were 24 plastic sachets containing 115 grams of shabu, worth P212,750. The mother and daughter are detained at the Talipan district jail in Pagbilao town.

On Sept. 21, Sahjid’s estranged wife, Rhine Christine, was also arrested in Tayabas City for a drug-related charge. She was released on bail.

Police records showed Cerilo and Sahjid had been arrested thrice on drug pushing charges, but they were freed several years ago after the courts dismissed the cases filed against them. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH