Authorities arrest suspected drug lords in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY – A village head and his brother, both suspected to be drug lords operating in Cagayan and nearby provinces, were arrested on Wednesday, six months after P320,000 worth of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) were seized from their houses in Mabuttal East village, Ballesteros town.

Edmundo Uclos, 50, village chief of Mabuttal East; and his brother Arnulfo, 53, were served with arrest warrants issued on November 17, according to Laurefel Gabales, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“Arnulfo and Edmundo are members of a local drug group based in Ballesteros, Cagayan and known as untouchables in the area by its residents. The group is co-led by the duo,” Gabales said.

The brothers were not in their homes when PDEA carried out the May 1 raid that led to the drug haul.             /kga