TACLOBAN CITY- A Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councilor in a town in Leyte was nabbed in a buy-bust operation on July 14.
Arrested was Aaron David Balane, 23 of Barangay Iniguihan, Bato town in Leyte at about 9:30 pm by the elements of the anti-drug elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Also arrested by the PDEA elements during their sting operation in Barangay Kalanggaman, Bato town was Balane’s elder brother, Angelo,27, who was earlier arrested for illegal drug selling by the Bato police, PDEA regional information officer Rogelette Urgel said.
“The arrest of Balane only confirms that even barangay officials are engaging in illegal drug trade. In this case, it is unfortunate that an SK leader was arrested for illegal drug activity,” Urgel, in a phone interview, said.
Seized from the brothers were two pieces of sachets containing the suspected ‘shabu’ weighing 0.6 grams with a street value of P1,000.
The two suspects are now detained at the Bato police lock-up facility.
The former village chair where the brothers were arrested, Brgy. Kalanggaman, Vladimir Adlawon, was earlier named by PDEA of its narco list.
But Adlawon strongly denied this allegation as he was also cleared by the Bato police.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
