LTO chief in Tarlac nabbed for illegal drugs, grenade

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — A Land Transportation Office (LTO) official was arrested on Wednesday when nine sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth), a hand grenade and bullets for a hand gun were seized from his house in Tarlac City.

Rodel Yambao, 59, officer-in-charge of LTO in Tarlac province, had been under police surveillance after being listed as a high-value target, police said.

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Present during the search and seizure conducted by the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at Yambao’s house in Barangay San Roque were his wife, two village councilors and representatives from the Department of Justice and media.

In Cavite province, a village official seeking reelection in Cavite City was arrested after policemen, during a search, found a sachet of suspected shabu in his coin purse on Wednesday.

Supt. Giovannie Martinez, Cavite City police chief, said Arman delos Angeles was nabbed at 3 a.m. at Barangay 42B, where he was seeking reelection as village chief. —Tonette Orejas, with a report from Maricar Cinco