Kalinga town councilor nabbed for drugs

BAGUIO CITY – A municipal councilor in Kalinga province was arrested during a Sunday drug bust in Tabuk City, according to the Cordillera police.

Dexter Batalao, 31, a councilor of Pasil town, sold drugs for P1,000 to an undercover agent at his leased residence in Bulanao village at 2:30 a.m. Batalao tried to escape but was intercepted at a checkpoint in Appas village, carrying a sachet of alleged shabu (crystal meth) and the P1,000 marked money.

Batalao was among those who previously surrendered to the police on July 16, 2016 as part of Oplan Tokhang.

The councilor also carried a loaded pistol, ammunition, and shabu paraphernalia.

At 6:30 a.m., the police searched Batalao’s home and recovered 4 sachets of alleged shabu, drug paraphernalia, and another weapon, which were turned over to the Kalinga Provincial Crime Laboratory Office.

The councilor was detained at the Tabuk City Police Station. /je